Orekhovo-Zuevo: The “Manchester” Near Moscow

7 points4 km0 hours

Orekhovo-Zuevo breathes the history of textile mills and the labor movement. Its prerevolutionary neighborhoods and merchant mansions still recall how manufacturing flourished here in the 19th century. The town will appeal to anyone interested in Russia's industrial heritage. In Orekhovo-Zuevo you can see what factory settlements looked like and get a feel for everyday life in the textile centers of the Moscow region.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras
🔍🖼️ Spot interesting details

Route points (7)

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Orekhovo-Zuyevo

Point on route “Orekhovo-Zuevo: The “Manchester” Near Moscow”

Point 7

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God

🕍 Place of worship • 📜 Historic site

Historical Background

The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God is the main church of Orekhovo-Zuevo and one of the best-preserved monuments of church architecture in the Moscow region. It was built from 1872 to 1890 with donations from Old Believer patrons, to a design by the architect Nikolai Finisov. In 1890 the church was consecrated by Bishop Alexander of Mozhaisk. The church came through the revolution almost unscathed. From 1939 to 1945 it was closed, and the building was used as a flying club, a civil defense center, and a hospital. After the war services resumed, and the cathedral became one of three working churches in the Moscow region. Restoration began in 1990 and was completed in the early 2000s.

The Architecture

The brick cathedral is built in the Russian style and left unplastered. The plinth is faced with white stone, and the walls and windows are framed with decorative brickwork. The five-domed building symbolizes a spiritual ship. The central dome rises on a drum pierced with windows, while the four side domes sit on blind drums. The domes are crowned with gilded eight-pointed crosses. On the west side rises a three-tiered brick bell tower. Inside, murals with images of the Mother of God, St. Panteleimon, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker have survived. Today the cathedral runs two spiritual and educational centers, a Sunday school, and a library, and its well-kept grounds include a pond and playgrounds for children.