Goloperovo: The History of the Church of the Three Saints

Goloperovo is best understood through the history of the Church of the Three Saints. Its stone building was erected in 1807 on the site of an earlier wooden church. The change from wood to stone marks two successive building phases at the same location. The church’s historical description also includes three altars: one in honor of the Three Saints, one in honor of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, and one in honor of the holy unmercenary physicians Cosmas and Damian. Thus, several distinct dedications come together in one place of worship.

Church history between closure and liturgy

The church was closed in 1943. A warehouse and a shop were later housed in its building. A subsequent religious event is precisely dated: on April 26, 2025, a liturgy described as the first in almost a hundred years was held in Goloperovo. This provides another chronological reference point in the church’s history, without implying a regular service schedule.

A report dated October 12, 2022, noted that the Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery in Pereslavl was responsible for the church. This date is relevant to that statement. In considering the history of the place, the reported connection to a monastery is noted alongside the church’s construction and use.

Ruin and chapel in Goloperovo

In October 2022, the church was described as a ruin: the domes were missing, the roof had large holes, and plaster and bricks were continually crumbling away. The interior was also described as unsafe in 2022 and 2024. If you are planning a visit, check in advance which areas are accessible.

Another local feature is the Chapel of the Three Ecumenical Teachers, located in a prayer carriage. On November 13, Abbot Panteleimon (Korolyov), head of the Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery, consecrated a chapel in Goloperovo in honor of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. These three names together form the dedication of the chapel.

Other cultural sites in the wider destination of Yaroslavl Oblast

Those who include other places in the wider destination of Yaroslavl Oblast in their travel plans will find different cultural and historical highlights there. In Pereslavl-Zalessky, the Transfiguration Cathedral dates from the 12th century. It is the city’s oldest church and the earliest surviving architectural monument of the Vladimir-Suzdal school. In Uglich, the surviving ensemble of the Kremlin includes buildings dating from the 15th to the 19th century: these include the Princes’ Chambers, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry, the former City Duma building with museum exhibits, and the Transfiguration Cathedral with its bell tower, Uglich’s most important active place of worship.

Museums also offer their own highlights in Yaroslavl Oblast. At the Rostov Kremlin State Museum-Reserve, visitors can see the exhibition on Rostov finift (enamel). The Emalis Enamel Art Museum in Yaroslavl offers insights into the history of the craft and works by Russian and European artists; visitors can also make a pendant or a picture themselves. Ask the museum about the current arrangements for this activity.

When choosing a vacation rental, it can be helpful to decide clearly what you want to focus on: would you like the church history of Goloperovo to be the main focus, or would you like to include other places in Yaroslavl Oblast in your plans? Base your accommodation search on the places that genuinely interest you.

Discover more destinations: Myshkin, Uleyma, Pogorelka, Tutaev, Bolshoye Selo, Shaposhnitsy, Gorki Leninskiye, Lvy.

Back to the wider travel overview: Yaroslavl Oblast.