The village of Kareli is first mentioned in 1623. In the land survey book of 1676, compiled by V. V. Kropotkin, there is a description: "The village of Kareli, on the Tsna River. It has a wooden church. There are 178 peasant households in the village of Kareli. Soldiers serving on the Tambov rampart and in fortresses also live in the village, such as Savka Ivanov, son of Shevelev, and others, totaling 2 households. There are also 19 households of landless peasants in the village." In total, there were 208 houses and 547 men in Kareli.

The first mention of the wooden church in the village dates back to 1640. In 1708, a new church was built on its site, with the main altar consecrated in honor of the Nativity of the Mother of God, and the side altar in honor of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian. In 1754, another church was erected in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, and in 1827, a third one, in honor of the Resurrection of the Word. In 1901, the Resurrection church burned down, and the residents decided to build two new churches in the northern and southern parts of the village. The first was designed by F.A. Svirchevsky, the second by V.I. Freiman. The church in the southern part of the village was dedicated to the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. A local wealthy man, Timofey Chichagov, proposed to lease 700 desyatinas of forest from the society, and the proceeds would be directed to the construction of the church. Construction began in the summer of 1906, and in 1913, a bell was raised and the left side altar was consecrated in honor of Archangel Michael. The church was closed in 1937.

Since 1946, the church in honor of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord has been active again.