Church of Saint Nicholas in Old Vagankovo

Arbat, Moscow City (Central) Russia

Russian Orthodox

The church is thought to have been built in 1531, replacing an earlier wooden building. It was dismantled and a new church built on the basement from 1747 to 1759. A fire in 1812 badly damaged the church and it was closed and left to decay. In the mid-1800s it was used as a house. Rebuilt again from 1895-1903, with the porch enlarged and a new bell tower. The church was closed in 1920 and used as house for several institutions. Restoration again took place from 1980-1990, with services begun in 1992. The building still belongs to the Russian State Library. A wooden statue of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk is in the church. The church is on Starovagankovsky Lane.