The history of the first church in the settlement of Orlik, which belonged to the Starooskolsky district for over two centuries, begins with its construction in the 17th century. The church was consecrated in honor of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. In 1773, with the construction of the brick Nicholas church, the settlement was named Nikolaevka.

It is believed that in the 18th century, the Transfiguration chapel was added to the Nicholas church, which is why it was referred to as either the Nicholas or Transfiguration church. By the mid-19th century, the population of the settlement exceeded four thousand people, and it was decided to build a new large church. In the historical research of local historian A.P. Nikulov, it is stated that in 1882, parishioners built a brick three-altar church in the name of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The church had a northern chapel in honor of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker and a southern chapel in honor of Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow. Its dimensions were 36 meters in length, 23 meters in width, and 35.5 meters in height. The bell tower was built along with the church, and the bells had been used since 1763. The church housed an ancient icon of the Transfiguration in its original form. Two parish schools and a church watchman's house, built in 1882, operated at the church.

The main altar of the church was consecrated on April 26, 1882, the altar in honor of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker on October 9, 1889, and the altar in honor of Saint Alexius on October 10 of the same year. The church was built slowly and thoroughly, as if anticipating its complicated fate. Church utensils were prepared for five years, and for three years, icon painters from Moscow decorated the church. The Transfiguration church was renowned for its decor and icons, among which stood out the altar icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Byzantine style and the miraculous icon of the martyr Paraskeva Friday. A new large bell was delivered for the opening of the church. The cemetery at the church was the burial place not only for clergy but also for people distinguished in piety.

In the 1930s, under Soviet power, vandalism began in Orlik under the slogan of fighting religion. In 1936, atheists tore down crosses, removed bells, and threw out icons and church utensils. Many icons, including the church icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the icon of martyr Paraskeva Friday, were destroyed. However, some villagers, risking their lives, saved icons and church books. Nikolai Mitrofanovich Filippenko saved the Kursk-Root icon of the Mother of God "Znamenie," which he handed over to the school in 1989. The Kovalenko family saved the Crucifixion. After the church was closed, believers gathered for prayer on the porch, but soon this became impossible. The church building was turned into a collective farm warehouse.

During the Great Patriotic War, the persecution of believers temporarily ceased, but the church was not reopened. Only during the German occupation in 1942 was the church briefly opened. The Germans did not destroy the church but dismantled the fence for road repairs. After the village was liberated, fallen soldiers were buried near the church.

After the war, the church was closed again. It housed a grain mill, a warehouse for fuel and lubricants, and the cellars were used for agricultural needs. In the 1950s, the church was abandoned and partially destroyed. It was dismantled manually and with tractors, and the bricks were used for building farms and warehouses. By the fall of 1964, only the bell tower remained, a reminder of the soullessness of people.

In October 1968, the bell tower was blown up. After that, the local authorities organized a cleanup day to clear the area. Thus, the holy place lost everything that reminded of the majestic church.