Orenburg was originally conceived not only as a border fortress but also as an important trading center for the exchange of goods between Russian and Central Asian merchants. Orenburg's trade was significant, as the main goods were livestock, primarily sheep and horses, which were driven in large herds, while goods from the south were delivered by camels. Due to the large number of animals, there was not enough space in the fortress, and there was an epidemic threat to the city. Therefore, for successful trade outside the city, in the steppe beyond the Ural Mountains, the Menovoy Dvor was built. It was a fortress with a stone wall and two gates. Shops were located along the wall, and in the center of the courtyard, another smaller courtyard was erected for Asian merchants. For the convenience of merchants who spent a lot of time here, a church for Christians and a mosque for Muslims were built.

The church in honor of Saints Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, was constructed with funds from the customs office in 1754 and consecrated on August 5, 1755, with the blessing of Bishop Luka of Kazan and Sviyazhsk. In 1774, during the Pugachev uprising, it was destroyed and desecrated. In 1816, the church was restored by merchant Osorgin. The church building was made of stone, with a stone bell tower; it had one altar and a sufficient amount of church utensils and vestments. The church was affiliated with the Ascension Church at the Gostiny Dvor. During the Soviet era, the church and the Menovoy Dvor were destroyed.