The St. Nicholas Church in the village of Aktayuz, Kilemar District, is a well-known monument of wooden architecture. Its intricate and snow-white architecture enlivens the rural landscape. The church was built in 1900 with funds from parishioners, a merchant from St. Petersburg, Kirill Gerasimovich Skvortsov, and with the help of synodal assistance. The site for construction was chosen not by chance: in 1890, villagers discovered an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on a stump of a felled tree in a wasteland. Considering this a divine sign, they decided to build the church right here.

The wooden structure of the church was erected on a stone foundation. It was built from strong, well-dried logs without the use of nails, covered with iron on top, clad with planks, and painted white. The church had a prosphora bakery, a library, and a church school. Houses for church servants, built with parishioners' funds, were owned by the parish.

The interior of the church was adorned with a three-tiered iconostasis featuring 22 painted icons, as well as numerous church icons and utensils. In May 1901, the church was consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and three cemetery chapels were assigned to it.

The first priest in Aktayuz was Ioann Anisimovich Anisimov, and the elder was Timofey Sergeyevich Lashmanov. The parish had 173 households. Father Ioann served here until 1912 and was buried in the churchyard.

After the October Revolution, according to the decree on the separation of church from state, the community of believers signed a contract with the authorities for the indefinite and free maintenance of the church buildings. During these years, the parish was led by priest Nikolai Manuilovich Fedorov.

In 1936, the church was closed, and after the Great Patriotic War, it was used as a grain storage facility for the collective farm. Time left its mark on this beautiful structure: it dulled and seemed lifeless. However, despite the neglect, the walls, built without a single nail, remained strong, and the logs rang when struck.

Only in recent decades, when people turned back to faith, was the fate of the church discussed at a general meeting of the collective farm 'Awakening.' It was unanimously decided to revive the church. Funds were allocated for repairs, and donations began to be collected. At the request of Archimandrite Varlaam, now schemamonk Lavrenty, Igumen Nikodim from the nearest church in Korotnyakh came to Aktayuz. He discussed with the residents the necessity of the church and concluded that it was indeed needed.

The Nicholas Church in the village of Aktayuz reopened for believers on April 6, 1990. The consecration of the church, with the blessing of Bishop Anastasy of Kazan and Mari El, was conducted by the archpriest Eugene Kutirev.