Church of Elijah the Prophet

The Temple of Elijah the Prophet– a masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture and painting and one of the most recognizable symbols of the city, was built in 1647-1650 by the wealthy merchants brothers Boniface and John Skripin.

The central temple is surrounded by a large number of different asymmetrical volumes: chapels from the north and south, a bell tower, a tent chapel with a Chasuble (built specifically for the great shrine, granted by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and Patriarch Joseph Skripin in 1650 – fragments of the Lord's Robe), galleries and two porches.

The uniqueness of St. Elijah's Church also lies in the fact that the artistic decoration, which rightfully belongs to the peaks of ancient Russian art, has been completely preserved here. Its main part is the amazing preservation of the original paintings of the 17th century, which preserved the freshness and brightness of the colors.

The gilded iconostasis of magnificent carvings appeared here in 1696. Its icons are indisputable masterpieces of ancient Russian art, especially the icons of the lower local tier, most of which are attributed to the outstanding icon painter of the XVII century. Fyodor Zubov (temple image of Elijah the Prophet, Annunciation, Ascension, etc.).

Now the Church of Elijah the Prophet is jointly used by the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve and the Yaroslavl Diocese.