Characteristic architectural features of the preserved merchant churches of Yaroslavl of the 17th century

The aim of the research is to confirm the thesis that the constructive and artistic features of cult buildings and the placement of these objects on the city's commemorative map depend on the social status of the patron, based on the example of merchant churches in Yaroslavl of the 17th century. The article examines the architectural characteristics and religious significance of the churches built in the 17th century through the efforts of wealthy Yaroslavl merchants; it analyzes the structural elements of the buildings, their stylistic features, as well as the influence of historical and socio-political conditions on the church architecture of that period. Special attention is given to the unique traits that distinguish churches built with the funds of merchant families from other preserved cult structures in Yaroslavl. By focusing on the specific architectural and artistic features of these religious buildings, the study reveals class-based ideological and artistic programs reflecting the socio-cultural status of the Yaroslavl merchant estate on regional and national scales. The novelty of the research lies in developing an original authors’ approach to the typology of the preserved Yaroslavl churches from the perspective of merchant patronage. In the scientific literature, all churches are traditionally studied only from a formal-stylistic point of view, which does not encompass the aspects considered in this study. As a result, the research identifies and proves the existence of a distinctive regional architectural style of merchant churches in Yaroslavl, enriching Russian church architecture of the 17th century.