In the Ruzaevsky District of the Republic of Mordovia lies the village of Streletskaya Sloboda, whose history spans 367 years. It was founded by shooters, defenders of the Fatherland, and initially served as a forward stronghold on the southeastern border of the Russian state. In the 18th-19th centuries, two wooden churches were built in the village, and in 1862, a third one, the Nikolskaya Church with a Kazan chapel, appeared.

The village gradually expanded. By the end of the 19th century, at the initiative of Abbess Evpraksia, the head of the Paraskevo-Ascension Convent, the construction of a new stone church with a five-domed cathedral and a separate bell tower began. Evpraksia, a native of Streletskaya Sloboda from the Vereteshkin family, dreamed of a majestic church that would delight everyone. Her dream was realized thanks to the efforts of almost all the villagers, who donated their savings, helped the builders, and participated in making bricks. The materials for construction were sourced locally, and to strengthen the mortar, raw eggs were added.

The Church of the Kazan Mother of God has endured much: in the 1930s, the crosses were removed, it was used as a grain storage and warehouse until the 1980s, and then attempts were made to dismantle it, but unsuccessfully. The revival of the church began in the spring of 2014 with the arrival of Father Anatoly Klyushin, and the restoration is being carried out through donations from parishioners and sponsors. On November 4, the village celebrated the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. During the procession, Father Anatoly noticed an inscription on the icon. After the service, it was carefully examined, and the text was read, connecting generations: "This holy Icon was written and consecrated in the Paraskevo-Ascension Convent of the Insar District of the Penza Province. It was written by the sisters of the monastery. This holy Icon of the Mother of God 'Kazan' was erected by the efforts of Orthodox warriors, parishioners of the village of Lemzha in the Insar District of the Penza Province in memory of the Russo-Japanese War, which took place in 1904-1905, and in memory of their miraculous salvation from deadly artillery during the fierce battle from February 13 to 21, 1905."