Ioann

or Ivan, a 12th-century Russian architect. He designed the Spasskii Cathedral (before 1159) in the Spaso-Evfrosiniia Monastery (now within the Polotsk City limits), the finest piece of 12th-century Polotsk architecture.

Ioann was the first to depart from the usual crucifix-domed buildings of old Russian architecture: he raised the drum slightly, extending its triangular sides out over the central cube of the church, and lowered the apsis and the west entrance to give the building a towered effect and an intense dynamic quality. Two churches in the Polotsk Bel’chitskii Monastery are also attributed to Ioann (both in the first half of the 12th century; now in ruins).