Church of St. Nicholas, Orthodox church in Valuyki, Belgorod Oblast, Russia

The Church of St. Nicholas (Nikolskaya Church) is the oldest surviving building in Valuyki, Belgorod Oblast, built in 1840. It is a parish Orthodox church, distinct from the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Valuysky Uspensky Nikolsky Monastery. Inside, a reliquary to the left of the altar holds stones from the Jordan River, Mount Sinai and the spring of St. Mary Magdalene, plus an acorn from the Mamre oak.

The Church of St. Nicholas was built in 1840 and is the oldest surviving building in Valuyki. In the 1930s and 1940s it faced demolition, but from 1940 the building was used as a military warehouse, which saved it. Crosses and bells were thrown down, property was looted, and the staircase and bells were given to the fire brigade. Services resumed in 1946–1947, and one of the bells was later returned to the church.

The church holds copies of icons of the Kazan, Svyatogorsk, Pochayiv and Vladimir Mother of God, the last venerated as wonder-working, and an image of the Recovery of the Lost. A reliquary left of the altar keeps stones from the Jordan, Mount Sinai and the spring of St Mary Magdalene; another right of the altar holds relics of St Joasaph of Belgorod and St George the Victorious.

The church stands in the town of Valuyki, in Belgorod Oblast, and is the oldest surviving building there. It is an active Orthodox parish, so visitors should dress modestly and avoid visiting during services. Inside, look to the left of the altar for the reliquary case holding stones from the Jordan River and Mount Sinai, and to the right for the reliquary with relics.

Inside, left of the altar, a reliquary case made by parishioners holds stones from the Jordan River, from the spring of St. Mary Magdalene, from Mount Sinai and from the cave of the prophet Elijah, plus an acorn from the Mamre oak. Right of the altar, a second case keeps relics of St. Joasaph of Belgorod and other saints.