Built on the bank of the Volga, the Church of the Nativity of Christ shaped the skyline of Yaroslavl for several centuries, blending organically into the city's overall architectural ensemble. It was erected in 1635-44 with funds from the wealthy merchants Guriy and Akindin Nazaryev, although the church they founded was completed by their sons - Ivan, Andrey, and Mikhail Guryev. The patrons' names are preserved in an inscription that can be seen in the upper part of the main volume.
The four-pillar church with five domes, galleries, and side chapels cost the merchant family a colossal sum. But money was not the main thing. That is why another side chapel - the Kazan Chapel - was added to the original project, doubling the size of the western gallery. The bell tower is especially striking in the church complex, crowned by an openwork tent roof.
The paintings inside the Church of the Nativity of Christ appeared in the 1680s. They were created by a team of masters under the direction of Dmitry Semyonov, known for his frescoes in the Church of Elijah the Prophet.
