In the mid-19th century, to the west of the Ataman Cossack village, there were only Tatar settlements, the closest of which was Kucherganovka, located four versts from the Cossack village. The majority of its lands were occupied by steppes extending southward to the Volga. Here was a large island known as Zayachy. From the mid-19th century, Astrakhan merchants began renting plots on this island from the Tatar community of Kucherganovka for the construction of docks. Workers settled on the rented lands, building homes for themselves, and by the end of the 19th century, a significant working settlement had formed on Zayachy Island. The trading docks occupied the entire coastline of the island, turning it into one of the busiest places in the Astrakhan Volga raid. In 1899, mechanical workshops opened on the island, known as the 'Volga-Caspian Oil and Trade Society.'

All the residents of the settlement were parishioners of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church of the Ataman Cossack village, but due to the significant distance to the church, especially in rainy weather and spring, it was difficult to get there. River transport was also not always convenient for all residents of Zayachy Island. In the early 20th century, they expressed a desire to build their own church in their settlement. This desire was supported by the rector of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church, Archpriest Ioann Nigrovsky. Quickly, benefactors, owners of local docks and workshops, were found, ready to donate for the construction of the church. At the insistence of Father Ioann, it was decided to build not just a church, but a church-school, where services could be held and children could be taught the Law of God. The construction proceeded rapidly, and in 1903 the church was consecrated. It was wooden, small, and located on the shore, on the territory of the mechanical workshops. All vessels passing by could admire its view and shining crosses. The church was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The church was attached to the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church of the Ataman Cossack village, and its clergy conducted services here on Sundays and holidays. Later, a priest was appointed to the church, who also taught at the church-parish school.

After the 1917 revolution, the appearance of the left bank of the Volga changed significantly. In 1918, the working settlement on Zayachy Island was named Orlovsky, and the mechanical workshops were renamed in honor of Artyom Sergeyev. In 1928, this settlement, like the entire Trusovsky district, became part of Astrakhan. In 1923, the Nikolsky church fell into the hands of the Renovationists, who maintained only the appearance of church life, while most of the residents of the Orlovsky settlement began attending Orthodox churches in the settlement named after Trusov and in Novo-Pokrovsky. In the early 1930s, the authorities seized the church from the Renovationists, demolished the bell tower, and repurposed the building as a warehouse.

After the opening, a small iconostasis and the interior of the church resembled rural churches more. It had many icons, most of which were donated by parishioners. In the early 1990s, thanks to the efforts of the rector, Archpriest Grigory Toropov, the Nikolsky church underwent significant transformation: the domes shone with yellow light, and a new stone fence appeared around it.