The stone Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Makovo brings together a building history in wood and stone: it was built by Pyotr Andreyevich Kolychev on the site of a wooden church that was dismantled in 1772. This transition from the predecessor building to the stone structure gives the village’s history a concrete architectural connection.
The Church and the Village’s History
Makovo already had a parish church before 1616. This means that the history of religious life in the village goes back further than the dismantling of the wooden church in 1772. The village’s former name is another historical clue: Makovo was formerly known as the village of Inyakhino with the settlement of Makovaya.
Refectory, Bell Tower, and Chapels
The church includes a refectory and an adjoining bell tower. Both were built at the same time as the church; the refectory was extended in 1859. This makes it possible to distinguish the original building complex from a later alteration. The church’s exterior is plastered.
The refectory contains two side chapels with different dedications: one is dedicated to Saint Demetrius of Rostov and Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, and the other to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The chapels add specific religious context to the architectural details. In January 2020, regular services were held in the church. If you are planning a visit, please check current access arrangements in advance.
More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Ryazan Oblast
Beyond Makovo’s local and church history, the wider destination of Ryazan Oblast offers other nature and culture experiences. Meshchersky National Park covers 103,014 hectares in the Ryazansky and Klepikovsky districts. The Oka and Pra floodplains within the park were designated wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1994.
Of the park’s ten established tourist routes, six are waterways. Five ecological educational trails also run through the national park: the Great Paustovsky Trail to Kordon 273, and the shorter routes Okno v prirodu, Tyukov grad - Chernaya gora, Zapovednaya priroda, and U zavodi. If you plan to take one of these routes, check its current availability with the park.
The museums of the oblast have a range of different focuses. The Museum of Wooden Architecture in Lunkino displays artistic wood carvings, painted wood, wickerwork made from willow rods, and other exhibits; about 3,500 objects are on display in total. The Kasimov Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve holds more than 40,000 collection items and offers craft workshops at its “School of Crafts.” Check the museum’s visitor information for schedules and bookings.
In Spassk-Ryazansky, the Georgy Wagner Historical and Archaeological Museum has archaeological and paleontological collections, as well as a natural history section about the wildlife of the Oksky Nature Reserve. A diorama of Old Ryazan and archaeological finds illustrate the history of the Grand Principality of Ryazan. The galleries also present the history, everyday life, and culture of the Spassk area from antiquity through the mid-20th century.
Crafts and events offer further points of interest: the Mikhailov Lace Museum is located in the city of Mikhailov, at the Truzhenitsa folk-art enterprise. The Veniz craft in Kadom developed when the term “Venetian” was shortened to “Veniz” and foreign materials were adapted to local production. An international ceramics festival is held in Skopin every two years; check the event dates when planning a specific trip. The arboretum at the Khudekov Estate in Erlino is home to 88 tree and shrub species from 17 families and 42 genera. The estate’s visitor programs include horseback riding.
Discover more destinations: Nemyatovo, Sorokino, Sasykino, Staroye Veselevo, Syntul, Turlatovo, Zelenaya Polyana, Ryazan.
For the broader travel overview: Ryazan Oblast.
