Ivan Strelbitskii worked on the conservation and restoration of the historic Faraskatta Church in the North Caucasus, combining traditional masonry and roofing techniques with modern structural reinforcement and concealed waterproofing.

The project addressed weakened stone masonry, seismic cracking, roof deterioration and long-standing surface-water problems while retaining a high proportion of surviving historic fabric.

Faraskatta Church stands in the village of Lower Faraskatta in the Digor Gorge, high on the mountainside above the Aigamugidon River.

The surviving church dates from the second half of the 15th to the early 16th century. In 1837 the building was altered and began to be used for Orthodox services, although traditional local religious practices continued to be associated with the site.

The compact building is constructed from roughly worked stone laid in lime-clay mortar. Its walls are approximately 0.8–0.9 m thick, with a traditional roof formed from broad slate slabs laid over the vault.

Technical Assessment
Assessment of masonry, cracking, roof condition, moisture penetration and drainage.

Structural Conservation
Development of strengthening measures for walls and vaults.

Masonry Repair
Grouting, repointing and reinforcement of weakened historic masonry.

Roof Conservation
Development of a concealed waterproofing solution allowing the historic slate roof to remain visually dominant.

Water Management
Reconstruction of the retaining wall and improvement of ground levels and drainage around the building.

The article identifies Ivan as Conservation Consultant and author of the project account.

The principal defects were associated with prolonged lack of maintenance and uncontrolled water penetration.

A retaining wall approximately two metres east of the church had partially collapsed, allowing surface water to reach the building. Ground levels around the church did not direct water effectively away from the walls, while the damaged roof provided another route for moisture penetration.

Loss of lime mortar had weakened the stone masonry, and several vertical and inclined cracks were recorded, probably associated with seismic movement.

Water Penetration
Surface runoff and roof leakage were saturating the masonry and contributing to deterioration.

Seismic Cracking
Vertical and inclined cracks had disrupted the continuity of the stone walls.

Roof Deterioration
Moisture and temperature changes had displaced and deformed the traditional slate roof covering.

Masonry Decay
Loss of historic lime mortar had weakened joints and created internal voids within the walls.

The conservation programme addressed surface water before concentrating on the building fabric.

The damaged retaining wall east of the church was reconstructed, while ground levels above it were reshaped to intercept runoff and direct water away from the monument.

Stone paving was introduced around the building with controlled falls, allowing surface water to move away from the walls rather than accumulate at their base.

Weak and open masonry joints were cleaned and repaired with lime-based restoration mortar.

Within the interior, damaged later finishes were removed where necessary, while surviving historic irregularities associated with earlier construction and alteration were retained.

The walls were also consolidated through systematic injection of weakened masonry, filling internal voids and improving structural continuity.

Vertical cracks were reinforced through the masonry joints using 8 mm ribbed fibreglass reinforcement.

The reinforcement was inserted diagonally across the cracks in a staggered arrangement. Injection grout then filled the crack itself, surrounding voids and the drilled reinforcement channels, helping reconnect masonry that had been separated by cracking.

The historic roof was formed from broad slate slabs laid above the masonry vault. By the time of restoration, moisture accumulation and repeated temperature changes had displaced and deformed parts of the covering.

Rather than replacing the traditional roof with a visibly modern system, the project introduced a concealed waterproofing layer beneath the restored slate covering.
This allowed modern moisture protection to be incorporated without altering the external character of the historic roof.

Surviving slate slabs were carefully marked, removed and stored for reuse.

The roof base was reshaped and strengthened before a concealed waterproofing system was installed. The original slate covering was then reinstated, supplemented only where material was missing.

Approximately 70% of the original slate material was retained in the restored roof.

The waterproofing system was intentionally hidden beneath the visible historic roof.

A reinforced levelling screed was formed above the existing roof structure, followed by a rolled waterproofing layer based on fibreglass and an additional protective screed. Concealed copper drainage elements were incorporated at the roof edges.

The slate slabs were then reinstated above this system so that the completed roof retained its traditional appearance.

High humidity had contributed to biological growth on internal lime plaster.

Affected surfaces were treated with a biocidal composition, while weak masonry joints and the lancet vault were repaired using lime-based restoration mortar.

The historic entrance door was also restored, including its original form of pivoting “heel hinge” mechanism. Small ventilation gaps were incorporated where the door meets the masonry to improve airflow within the interior.

A steel conservation roof had been erected above the church in the 1990s to protect the deteriorating historic roof.

During restoration, this temporary structure was retained while work proceeded beneath it. Only after the effectiveness of the new concealed waterproofing system had been tested was the external steel conservation roof removed.

The Faraskatta project combined the repair and reuse of historic fabric with targeted contemporary interventions where these improved structural stability or weather protection.

Historic stone masonry and slate remained visually dominant, while structural reinforcement, grouting and waterproofing were incorporated discreetly within the existing construction.

The project stabilised the historic masonry, improved surface-water management and restored the traditional slate roof while retaining approximately 70% of its original covering material.

The completed intervention demonstrates how modern structural reinforcement and concealed waterproofing can support traditional conservation techniques without dominating the historic appearance of a small but culturally significant mountain monument.

Ivan is available for independent consultancy, technical review and professional collaboration on historic structures, structural assessment and conservation engineering.