Location Tula Founded 1730 Status Landmark Founder Akinfiy Nikitich Demidov | Country Russia Consecrated 1734 Architectural style Petrine Baroque | |
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Denomination Russian Orthodox Church Similar Temple of Flora and Lavra, All Saints Cathedral, Temple of the Holy Great Mar, Mariä‑Entschlafens‑Kathedrale, Holy Ascension Church | ||
The Nicholas-Zaretsky Church (Николо-Зарецкий храм) is a church in Tula in Russia. It contains the family vault of the Demidov family of industrialists. Its usual name is the Nicholas-Zaretsky Church, though it has held various others over time.
History
The church originated as two separate 17th century wooden churches on the site, replaced between 1730 and 1734 by a new double-nave church. Akinfiy Nikitich Demidov, son of Nikita Demidov, is considered to be the founder of the new church. It has several side chapels, with paintings of the Nativity, Saint Nicholas, Andrew the Apostle and Tikhon of Kaluga. In 1734 a new crypt chapel was built for burials of the Demidov family. A bell tower in the Yaroslava-Suzdal style was built near the church. In Soviet times the church was closed and used as a warehouse, though it is now back in use as a church.