Church of Saint Nicholas in Old Vagankovo, Eastern Orthodox church in Arbat District, Moscow, Russia.
The Church of Saint Nicholas stands on Starovagankovsky Lane with white stone walls and traditional Orthodox features topped by a single cupola. The building is part of the Russian State Library complex and functions as both an active church and an educational institution.
The building was constructed in 1531 as a stone structure and underwent several major changes, particularly between 1747 and 1759. These renovations shaped the appearance we see today.
The church's name comes from the old village of Vagankovo, absorbed into Moscow in the 16th century. In 1895 it became the church of the Artillery Department of the Moscow Military District, and its rector from 1896 was priest Leonid Chichagov, later Metropolitan Seraphim. He painted the four evangelists on the walls, still visible today, and copies of his icons are kept here.
The church is accessible from Starovagankovsky Lane and clearly visible from the street in the Arbat District area. Visitors should remember this is an active place of worship and conduct themselves respectfully when inside.
The church kept its 18th-century iconostasis in the Sergius side chapel, and wall paintings of the four evangelists by priest Leonid Chichagov, later metropolitan Seraphim, survive inside. In 1924 the building was handed over as a library store, and books were piled in boxes and sacks up to the dome.
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