The village of Derzhavino was founded in the 1750s by Roman Nikolaevich Derzhavin, the father of the famous Russian poet and statesman Gavrila Derzhavin, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Orenburg Landmilitia regiment. After her husband's death, the poet's mother built a wooden church in the village in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Smolensk." Over time, the wooden church fell into disrepair, and in 1784, Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin received the blessing of the Kazan archbishop to erect a stone church.

Construction began in the summer of that year in the center of the village and lasted 12 years. In 1796, the church was consecrated in honor of the Smolensk image of the Mother of God. Two side altars were consecrated in honor of the Great Martyr Catherine and the icon of the Mother of God "Znamenie."

Since the 19th century, the church in the village of Derzhavino has become a recognized landmark of the Orenburg region, and since 1851, of the Samara province. It is an outstanding monument of history and culture of national significance and is considered the oldest church in the Orenburg region.

From 2015 to 2018, work was carried out on the architectural and artistic restoration of the painting, strengthening the painted layers, and eliminating cracks in the ground of the painting. Restoration work was also completed on the facades and roof, and the bell tower was recreated.