Makarova Anastasia S. — PhD. cult., restorer of the I cat.; the State Research Institute for Restoration, Academic Secretary
E-mail: aanpilogova@mail.ru

Kiryanova Olga G. — The State Research Institute for Restoration, junior research associate of the Scientific and Organizational Department
E-mail: psk-ok@mail.ru

Yuryeva Tatyana V. — he State Research Institute for Restoration, Research fellow of the Laboratory of Physicochemical Research
E-mail: tvyur@yandex.ru

Koluntaev Dmitry A. — PhD in Biological Sciences; Saitegra LLC, Leading Specialist in Mass Spectrometry
E-mail: Koluntaev@gmail.com

This article examines the process of research and conservation of three tombstones from the collection of the Krutitsy Patriarchal Metochion. The metochion's lapidary collection currently comprises 123 items. Some are on display in situ, while others are part of several exhibitions created within the metochion. Three of the steles — the tombstone of Metropolitan Barsanuphius (1688), the tombstone of Metropolitan Triphyllius (1701), and the tombstone of Hieromonk Adrian (1716) — retain traces of decorative painting. Technical and technological research revealed that the surface of the letters on the slabs of Metropolitans Barsanuphius and Triphyllius were gilded, the sides of the letters and the background of the inscriptions were painted blue with artificial azurite, and the background of the floral ornament was painted red with lead-based paint. On Hieromonk Adrian's tombstone, the initials of the words, the image of a four-pointed cross, and some of the ornamental decoration were painted red (red lead pigment). The remaining text and small ornamental elements were painted black. Furthermore, microbial marker analysis revealed a significant number of anaerobic microorganisms in the samples taken from the surface of Metropolitan Trifilly's tombstone. This allowed us to reconstruct the history of the monument, which likely remained buried in the ground for a long time.

Anaerobic bacteria, conservation, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Krutitsy Patriarchal Metochion, lapidary collection, paint layer, tombstone.