Churches of Our Lady of Smolensk and Our Lady of Vladimir, Orthodox church complex in Gordeevka district, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
The Churches of Our Lady of Smolensk and Our Lady of Vladimir form an ensemble of two separate buildings in the Gordeevka district. The Smolensk church features a single dome, while the Vladimir church displays five domes and an attached bell tower.
The Smolensk church was built in the 1680s under orders from Count Grigory Dmitrievich Stroganov and consecrated in 1694 as a private family chapel. The Vladimir church was constructed later, and both buildings served different purposes before being returned to the Orthodox Church.
The complex blends Western European Baroque with Russian building traditions that shaped local religious life for centuries. This mix of styles reflects how different architectural influences met and merged in the city.
The Smolensk church reopened for worship in 1993, while the Vladimir church was returned to the Orthodox Diocese in 1998 after being used for other purposes. Visitors can explore the ensemble from the outside or participate in services if interested in the religious activities.
The Smolensk church surprises visitors with its unusual interior that lacks supporting columns, creating an open and spacious feeling inside. Large windows arranged in two levels flood the space with natural light in a way that feels surprisingly modern for its era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
