Orlovo: A Storied Church History

Orlovo is shaped above all by its church history. Historical milestones include a wooden parish church and several clearly dated turning points in the history of the Epiphany Church. For travelers interested in religious architecture and local history, this chronology offers a concrete way to explore the town.

Church History in Orlovo

The first wooden parish church in Orlovo was built in 1646 and dedicated in honor of the Epiphany. The Epiphany Church was renovated in 1650, 1701, and 1762; it burned down in 1778. In 1885, a new Epiphany Church was built in Orlovo to a design by Voronezh architect V. V. Stainovsky. These dates trace the history from the early parish community to a later church whose architect is known by name.

The Epiphany Church was closed in 1935. It was returned to the faithful in the 1990s, and on August 2, 2009, Metropolitan Sergi of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk solemnly consecrated it. These dates mark different stages in its history, from closure to return and consecration. The church is active. If you are considering a visit, check visitor arrangements in advance.

Nature and Culture in Voronezh Oblast

In the wider destination of Voronezh Oblast, the territory of Khopyor Nature Reserve extends across the Novokhopersky, Povorinsky, and Gribanovsky administrative districts. A hiking excursion and a cycling tour offer different ways to spend time in the reserve. “Legendy Khopra” is five kilometers long and takes three hours; the hiking route is closed during the spring flood. The “Tur de Khopyor” cycling tour covers 26 kilometers and takes four hours. At just over five times the distance, its stated duration is only one hour longer than the hike.

Two halls at the Khopyor Reserve Nature Museum showcase the area’s wildlife and habitats. Topics include beavers, Russian desmans, aquatic and predatory birds, as well as wild boar, elk, fallow deer, and red deer. A large relief map of the reserve complements the exhibits. If you plan to visit the museum, check visitor arrangements before setting out.

A different landscape defines the Divnogorye Museum-Reserve in Voronezh Oblast: chalk landscapes with bizarre rock formations on steep slopes and large, ridge-like chalk ravines. Divnogorskiy Canyon is about one kilometer long and up to 200 meters wide. Six ritual caves and cave complexes are carved into the chalk massif on the right bank of the Tikhaya Sosna and Don rivers; together, they extend for about 8.5 kilometers. The “Paleoliticheskiye masterskiye” recreate the Stone Age and also host workshops on making stone tools.

The Kostenki Museum-Reserve also offers a window into the prehistoric past of Voronezh Oblast. The museum building completely covers a Stone Age settlement site. The nine-hectare museum-reserve encompasses 25 protected zones with about 60 Upper Paleolithic sites. The region thus offers a range of interests side by side: observing nature, exploring chalk landscapes, and discovering archaeological history.

Choose the Main Focus of Your Trip

This allows you to distinguish local history from regional excursion options while shaping your trip around the subjects that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Podkletnoye.

See the overview of the wider destination: Novousmanskiy rayon.