Rus temples in XI–XIV centuries are representatives of cities and urban culture. An important element of their ornamentation was multicolored glazed ceramic tiles. They were used at the beginning of the temple buildings in Ukraine. During a long-lasting existence the floor in the temples was repeatedly replaced. The temple architecture in Volyn traditionally imitated into Kiev one, but there were also strong influences of the West. The formats of floor tiles undergo various changes during the XI–XIV centuries. Decorative ornamentation of the floors in Volyn temples attracted the attention of researches from the first excavations conducted in 1886 in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir. However, the floors of the church of St. John the Theologian in Lutsk is the most explored because of M. Maliewska’s excavations. Archaeological excavations in the towns of Volyn indicate a significant spread of ceramic claddings. This type of flooring with tiles of non-standard shape on the territory of Volyn is best represented on the Pinsk, Busk and Peresopnytsia detynet’s. In the XIV century relief tiles were started to be used in Volodymyr and Lutches’k because of influences from the West. Due to decline of the Galіcian-Volyn’s state the tradition of using colored tiles in temples gradually decreased. A numerous summary of archaeological material in the article indicate on the complex history of this type of temple decoration, which should be explored in more details.
1. Funds of the Lviv Historical Museum "Kievan Rus"; 2. Grinyuk, B. (2016), Ceramic tiles from Plisnesky settlement (based on materials by I. Starchuk and M. Filipchuk), In Halych and Halych land; experience and problems of preservation of historical and architectural heritage of medieval cities in Ukraine and Europe, Materials of international scientific conference, Halych, October 27–28, Galych, 58–64; 3. Dovgan, Peter (2008), Busk Archeological Complex: Status and Prospects of the Research Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, In Bulletin of the Institute of Archeology, Lviv, Issue 3, 136–19; 4. Ioannisyan, O. (1999), On the origin of the tradition of decorating floors with glazed ceramic tiles in the medieval architecture of the Slavic countries (Preslav – Kiev – Gniezno) [In Russian], Medieval architecture and monumental art, St. Petersburg, 25–31; 5. Kucera, M. (1962), Ancient town Plisnesk [In Ukrainian], In Archaeological Sights of the Ukrainian SSR, T. 12, Kiev, 3–56; 6. Mazurik Yu., Ostapyuk O. (2017), Museum of Lyuboml of Local Lore continuation in the study of the chronicle of Ugrovs'k (to the 810th anniversary of the first first written mention of the chronicle Ugrovsk city and to the 133rd anniversary of the beginning of research of the archaeological monument), In Past and present Volhynia and Polissya Lyuboml and Lyuboml’ land in Ukrainian and European history, Scientific collection, Issue 63, Materials of the International Historical and Local History Conference, October 24–25, 2017, Lyuboml. Orderly G. Bondarenko, O.Ostapyuk, A.Silyuk (Ed.), Lutsk, 103–116; 7. Pasternak, Ya. (1986), Historical and princely times of the Belz land in the light of archeology, Bug river basin, Sokal’, Belz’, Radekhiv’, Kamin’, Kholm regions and Pidlyashshia, Historical memoir collection, New York; Paris; Sydney; Toronto, Vol. 1, 149–164; 8. Petegirich, V. (2006), Paganism and the beginnings of Christianity in the Belz’ and Cherven’ lands, Belz and Belz’ land, Belz, Issue 2, 13–17; 9. Prishchepa, B., Babynchuk, L. (2013), New additions to the Department of Archeology of the Rivne Regional Museum of Local History in 2011–2012, In Scientific Notes, Issue XI, Rivne, 159–162; 10. Ravdina T. (1963), Glazed ceramic tiles from Pinsk, In Brief Communications of the Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Issue 96, 110–112; 11. Rappoport, P. (1971), Danilov, In Brief Communications of the Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Issue 125, 82–86; 12. Rappoport, P. (1977), «The old chair» in the vicinity of Volodymyr-Volynsky [In Russian]. In Soviet Archeology. No. 4, 253–266; 13. Tersky, S. (1993). Annalistic Chemerin. Results of archaeological researches 1988–1990 years. In Scientific notes of the Lviv Historical Museum. Issue I. Lviv, 27–41; 14. Tersky, S. (2003). Peresopnytsia. Local studies. Rivne: Azalia; 15. Tersky, S. (2006). Luches’k X–XV centuries. Lviv: View of the Lviv Polytechnic National University ; 16. Tersky, S. (2010). Princely city Volodymyr. Lviv: View of the Lviv Polytechnic National University ; 17. Chukova, T. (1987). Ancient ceramic glazed tiles. In Brief Communications of the Institute of Archeology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Issue 190, 13–19; 18. Chukova, T. (2004). Altar of ancient Russian temple of the end of X-first third of XIII century. The main architectural elements are archaeological data. St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Oriental Studies; 19. Shelomentsev-Tersky, S. (1987). Ancient Russian town Peremil. In Problems of Soviet Archeology in the light of the Decisions of the XXVII Congress of the CPSU: Theses of the Reports of the All-Union Conference. Suzdal, 1987. Moscow: Nauka, 283; 20. Mazuryk, J. (1998). Archaeological research of the annalistic town Uhrowsk. In Archeology of Central and Eastern Poland. Lublin; Chełm; Zamość, Vol. 3, 175–182; 21. Rauhut, L. (1960). Early mediaeval materials from the territories of Ukraine in the State Museum of Archeology in Warsaw.. Early medieval materials, Vol. 5. Warsaw, 231–259.