Храм Рождества Христова, Orthodox cathedral in Lipetsk, Russia

The Nativity Cathedral is an Orthodox church with white walls and multiple gilded domes located in central Lipetsk. The structure combines classical architectural features with traditional Russian religious building practices and shapes the city skyline with its distinctive profile.

In 1857 peasants petitioned the Tambov and Kozlov dioceses to build a church in the village of Studenki, now part of Lipetsk. Permission came in 1859, the rough structure was ready by 1865, and construction finished in 1869 after two commissions inspected the site. In 1937 the church was closed, but it reopened in 1943 as the first church in Lipetsk active under Soviet rule.

The church was the first to reopen in Lipetsk under Soviet rule in 1943 and long remained the city's only functioning church. A Sunday school operates today. In 1892 priest V. I. Pokrovsky founded a parish school for girls here.

The cathedral is accessible on most days for visitors to attend services and view the interior. It is advisable to check current visiting hours in advance and respect religious ceremonies taking place during your visit.

In 1935, when authorities tried to remove the church bells, Bishop Uar (Shmarin) of Lipetsk intervened and was arrested and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. The church was closed in 1937 and reopened in 1943, becoming the first church in Lipetsk to resume services under Soviet rule and for a long time the city's only functioning church.