Church of the Archangel Michael

The Church of the Archangel Michael stands in the village of Nikolaevka, Birsk district, Republic of Bashkortostan, on a hill a few kilometers from the town of Birsk. The brick church, built in the early 20th century, is now abandoned but is officially listed as an architectural monument of the republic.

History

A chapel already stood in Nikolaevka in 1870. In 1892 a wooden church was moved here from the village of Sedyash, and it was consecrated on May 3, 1893. In 1903 parishioners began building a stone church dedicated to the Archangel Michael at their own expense, and it opened in 1915.

The church was closed in 1937. In the 1930s the building was converted into a grain store, which continued operating here until the 1960s. After the local collective farm was dissolved, the church was left without an owner and gradually fell into disrepair. The building has now been returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and services are held in it from time to time.

Legends and facts

According to local residents, during the years of Soviet anti-religious campaigns, elderly women advised the collective farm chairman to store grain in the church: this way the building was not torn down, while the authorities were satisfied with the practical use of the building. Local historians note that the church's bell tower remained the only one in Birsk district that was never rebuilt during the Soviet period.

What is there now

The church is built of red brick, and its foundation is laid with dressed stone brought from the village of Misharino. Inside, the ceiling and plaster are damaged, the roof is held up by wooden beams, and snowdrifts can gather at the entrance in winter. Pigeons live in the former bell tower. New barred windows have been installed, and the door is latched shut with a stick. The church's upkeep is supported by local residents through their own contributions.

How to get there

From Ufa, take the highway toward Birsk. Near the town, turn right following the sign for Nikolaevka. The road to the village passes by the Dormition Convent of St. George.