Located 4 km east of Suzdal, the village of Kideksha was home to the medieval residence of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Here stands the church dedicated to the first Russian saints Boris and Gleb. Built in 1152, it is the oldest stone structure in the territory of the Russian North and East, marking the beginning of the magnificent Vladimir-Suzdal white stone architecture.

The church impresses with its austere appearance and monumentality, reminding us of the Russian Middle Ages, princely feuds, and heroic strength. It is a monument to harsh and dramatic times.

For a long time, the church in Kideksha was in neglect, but today the museum-reserve has begun extensive restoration work. During the restoration, sensational discoveries were made. Archaeologists uncovered the lower part of an ancient altar, possibly the first white stone altar of Northeastern Russia. In the center of the dome space, a large round stone, the omphalos, was found, which in ancient Russian sources is referred to as the 'place among the church.' The bishop would stand on it during the service. The omphalos is a continuation of the early Byzantine pulpit and a predecessor of the modern pulpit. This find is unique; only an earlier mosaic example from the 10th century in the Desyatinnaya Church of Kiev is known. In the restored temple, an exhibition titled 'The Church of Boris and Gleb, a Unique Monument of Ancient Russian Architecture' has been opened.