In this church, services have not been held for a long time, there is no smell of incense and no bells ring. Around emptiness and devastation. Only this temple stands alone in the area, as if recalling the former existence of this place.
This church is located almost on the border with the Orenburg region, away from busy roads, near the dying village of Ivanovo-Podbelskoye (According to the 2010 census, the population of the village was one person). Nearby there is also a rural churchyard, judging by the state of the graves, it is quite visited.
The church was built in the pseudo-Gothic style in 1804-1810, by the landowner A. I. Alakaeva. Material - hewn stone. The official name is the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Ivanovo-Podbelsky. In everyday life, it is simply called Kazansky.
The village itself Ivanovo-Podbelskoe is located in a picturesque place along the Sheshma River. It got its name from the name of the lady Podbelskaya. In the old days, the village was quite large - about 500 households. Moreover, it was divided into three parts: Ivanovka, Podbelsk and Chestokovka, although there was practically no division. The poorest, formerly serfs lived in Ivanovka. And the lady was of a kind character, progressive in outlook on life. She was among the first landowners to give the peasants freedom.
During the civil war, both whites and reds visited the village. According to legend, Kolchak himself went to the church to pray. Of the priest's children (and as they say, there were quite a few of them - seven girls and one young man), four left with white officers, three with red officers.
Old photo of the church found on the Internet.
Now it looks like this
It is said that the south wall of the church was destroyed by black diggers in 2011.
Inside view of the bell tower
Several barely visible frescoes can be seen inside
According to local residents, there was a monk's grave near the walls of the temple, with a tombstone. But upon arrival, instead of a monument, we saw a dug grave. It is not clear whether they decided to reburial the remains, or were looking for something of value in the grave.