The Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, or the Nativity Church, is a winter church located in the Kozhevennaya Sloboda city of Suzdal on the right bank of the Kamenka River. Built in 1739, it was supplemented with a bell tower with a concave tent in 1740, forming an architectural ensemble with the summer Church of the Epiphany, erected in 1781.
The temple is located on the site of an ancient tanners' settlement, where wooden churches previously stood that burned down in the 17th century. The building of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist stretches from east to west and resembles the wooden cage churches in shape, but is made of stone, with pilasters instead of log connections. Adjacent to it is a small porch, which serves as the basis for an octagonal bell tower with a characteristic concave tent. The bell tower was added in 1740 and is reminiscent of the demolished bell tower of the Church of the Entrance to Jerusalem. The church is covered with a metal gable roof and decorated with a small onion-shaped dome on a thin carved drum.
The temple did not undergo significant reconstruction, with the exception of a slight widening of some openings. The Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist is one of the town's churches in Suzdal and has historical significance for this city. Suzdal reveres John the Baptist, and in his honor there are two churches in the city: the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Epiphany.
However, despite its historical significance, some locals may not be aware of this church. For example, in your story about a trip from Vladimir to Suzdal, the woman you were traveling with did not recognize the name of the church, although it is located in the center of the city. This may be due to the fact that there are many churches in Suzdal, and some of them may be less known or less noticeable to residents and visitors of the city.
Now the church is undergoing restoration inside and out, thanks to private donations, including from local philanthropist Alexander Gennadievich Shishkin. The restored temple is becoming increasingly attractive to tourists, but its location may not immediately attract attention, since it is located on Kremlevskaya Street near Torgovaya Square, but not directly on its territory.
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