Vladimir region is famous for its small, yet picturesque and ancient towns, often compared to exquisite boxes. One such town is Gus-Khrustalny, home to a true gem of Russian architecture, the Georgievsky Cathedral. This magnificent temple was built at the turn of the century thanks to the funding of the wealthy entrepreneur and patron Yuri Stepanovich Nechaev-Maltsov, known for his generosity in the construction of churches and other architectural monuments.

The construction of the Georgievsky Cathedral began in 1892 and was completed in 1903, after which the temple was consecrated and opened to the faithful. The best masters of the Russian Empire participated in its creation. The project was developed by the outstanding architect Leonty Nikolaevich Benois, the sketches for the painting were created by Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, and the mosaics were handled by Vladimir Alexandrovich Frolov. These masters often worked on churches funded by Nechaev-Maltsov, who sought the highest quality.

The cathedral was built in the neo-Russian style, combining the best examples of ancient Russian architecture, and inside it was adorned with a huge canvas by Vasnetsov depicting the Last Judgment. The interior of the cathedral also featured other works by Vasnetsov, but unfortunately, they were lost during the years of persecution against the church. Nechaev-Maltsov himself was pleased with the temple and predicted that it would attract the attention of the best researchers of Russian art, but times have changed.

With the advent of Soviet power, the temple was closed and barely escaped complete destruction. The Bolsheviks destroyed the bell tower, domes, and the top of the cathedral, which were never restored. Today, the temple houses a crystal museum, which indeed attracts art historians, but this is not how the outstanding patron envisioned the future of his creation when he spoke of its significance for art lovers.