The Old Believer Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Ivanovo appeared in a rather unexpected way. It was not specially built, but instead the calico-printing buildings of a chintz-printing manufactory closed at the beginning of the 19th century were used.
By the way, this was the first Ivanovo manufactory for finishing chintz, built by the peasant O.S. Sokov, who, in turn, learned this technology in the English workshops of Shlisselburg. By the will of fate, after the death of the father and son Sokovs, the factory premises came into the possession of the peasant M.I. Yamanovsky, who transferred them in 1810 to the local community of Old Believers.
Architect Marichelli rebuilt the industrial building into a prayer house, adding an altar on the eastern side and, on the western side, an almshouse on the third floor. In this form the building stood until 1907, and when the Old Believers were granted equal rights with the Orthodox, it was decided to give the structure a proper church appearance.
According to the design of architect Begen, an additional floor was added on top, which was crowned with five domes. The Kazan Old Believer community was established, and the church was consecrated in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, as well as the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas.
The Soviet regime did not spare the church: many extensions were destroyed, and the interior decoration was looted or damaged. For a long time there were ordinary living quarters here. Since the 1990s, restoration of the church has been underway, the demolished parts of the building have been rebuilt, and the interiors have been renovated.
