Church of Ascension, Yekaterinburg (must see)

The Church of Ascension began in May 1770 as a small wooden parish church. It served an Orthodox community that was still forming at the time. As the number of parishioners grew and life became more settled, the wooden building was no longer enough. This followed a common path in Russian church history, where early wooden churches were later replaced with stone ones meant to last much longer.

Work on the present stone church started in 1792 and finished in 1818. The building has two levels, each with its own dedication. The lower church is devoted to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while the upper church is dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. This layout made it possible to use different spaces at different times of the year. Architecturally, the church stands between late Baroque and early Classical styles, with clear shapes and balanced proportions instead of heavy decoration.

Inside, the space feels calm and orderly. Both levels have their own iconostasis, arranged in the traditional Orthodox way and drawing attention toward the altar. Many icons and church furnishings date back to the 19th century, reflecting local religious art and long-standing worship practices. Tall windows let in soft light, and the restrained colours support a quiet, reflective mood.

The church was closed in 1926 during the Soviet period. Over the following decades, it was used first as a school and later as a Museum of Local History. In 1991, the building was returned to the parish, and services resumed. Since then, it has continued to function as an active church, shaped by more than two centuries of religious, social, and architectural change.