Before the revolution, there was a legend in the Istoben district about a battle between the Ustyugans and the Ryazans, which took place in ancient times on the shore near the village. In memory of this event, a stone chapel was built in 1855 at the site of the battle, replacing an old wooden chapel from 1702. Locals claimed that even older chapels had existed before it, which had rotted over time. Memorial services for the fallen warriors were held annually in this chapel.

The chapel is characterized by simplicity: a cubic shape with porticos. To the west, the portico protrudes, while to the south and north, they are false. The roof features a dome on a low drum and a lantern with a small spire topped with a cross. The apse is semicircular. In plan, the chapel consists of a square and a semicircle. Everything is carefully thought out.

The legend of the battle is reflected in local historical literature with various interpretations. The basis of the legends lies in historical facts about two battles that took place on the Istoben shore, which over time merged into one event.

One of them is related to the campaign of 1379 by the ataman of the Novgorod ushkuyniks, Ryazan, into the Ar land. In the 14th century, the land of the Aryans began at the middle Vyatka, where archaeologists have discovered up to 15 Votian settlements. Russian colonists, arriving in Vyatka, pushed the Aryans-Udmurts back and imposed tribute on them. When the bandit troops of Ryazan invaded these lands, the Vyatka residents decided to teach them a lesson. The bandits, having seized their loot, stopped for the winter in the coastal villages of the Istoben district. In the spring of 1379, the Vyatka warriors attacked the Ryazans, defeated them, and captured the ataman, who was executed. Later, the village of Ryazanovskaya entered the village boundary, the name of which is associated with the name of the ataman of Ryazan and the events of 1379.

The second event is related to the battle of 1418 between the Ustyugans led by Anfal Nikitin and the Vyatka residents headed by Mikhail Rassokhin. In 1417, the Moscow army, which included Ustyugans and Vyatka residents, suffered defeat from Novgorod. After that, the Vyatka residents rebelled against Moscow. Learning of the betrayal, Vasily I sent the Ustyugans against Vyatka. Battles took place near the cities of Vyatka and Kotel'nich, under the villages of Gosteievsky and Istoben. The Ustyugan troops were defeated, many died. The bodies of Anfal and his son Nestor were taken by the Ustyugans and buried in Ustyugan land. The remains of other warriors were buried in mass graves.

One of the burials is associated with the chapel of the village of Istobenka. In memory of the battles of 1418, memorial services were held in several towns and villages of the Vyatka province for the fallen with Anfal. In Istobenka, memorial services were conducted on the last Saturday of Trinity week. Finds on the battlefield, such as arrowheads and remnants of chain mail, testify to the battles on the Istoben shore.

According to I.P. Selivanovsky's book "The Village of Istobenka," the chapel is dedicated to St. Nicholas and was built at the site of the battle. In 1702, a wooden chapel was built at this site, which was replaced by a stone one in 1855. During the Soviet era, the chapel housed a kerosene shop. The chapel is now in ruins, but thanks to a found blueprint, students from Vyatka State University created a project for its reconstruction.