Kizhi Island, located in the northeastern part of Lake Onega, is one of 1369 islands. Its length is about 5.5 km, and its width at the widest point reaches 1.4 km.

The history of Kizhi goes back to ancient times when these lands were inhabited by Baltic-Finnish tribes. From the 11th century, Kizhi and the nearby islands belonged to the Novgorod boyars. Under the influence of Novgorod, Christianity began to spread actively in the northern regions. In the 15th century, all Novgorod possessions became part of the Moscow state.

The Novgorod lands were divided into provinces called pyatinas, which included districts known as pogosts. From the 16th century, Kizhi Island became the center of the Spassky pogost, which included 130 villages, as well as the cultural, agricultural, and administrative center of Zaonezhye. According to the Census Books, wooden churches on Kizhi Island existed since the late 15th century, but earlier documents have not survived.

Today, Kizhi Island is known worldwide as an open-air museum of wooden architecture. It is home to the Kizhi State Historical, Architectural, and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve. The museum's foundation consists of structures from the ancient Kizhi pogost, such as the Church of the Transfiguration, the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, the Bell Tower, and the pogost fence. These buildings harmoniously fit into the harsh northern landscape, creating a unique ensemble. In 1990, the architectural complex of Kizhi pogost was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the late 17th century, a fire caused by a lightning strike destroyed the churches in the pogost. The Transfiguration Church was restored in 1714 on the site of the old one. Unfortunately, the names of the creators of the current church are unknown.

The Transfiguration Church, 37 meters tall, has 22 domes of different sizes. The central dome, three times larger than the others, crowns the structure. The symmetrical arrangement of the domes gives the church a pyramid shape. The church is famous for being built of wood without the use of nails, only with the help of an axe and chisel.

There is a story that during World War II, a Finnish officer received orders to bomb the Transfiguration Church, but struck by its beauty, he dropped the bombs into the lake, explaining to his command that it was due to bad weather conditions.

According to the latest data, the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin was built first after the fire in 1694 and was repeatedly rebuilt until 1764. This nine-domed church is smaller and simpler than the Transfiguration Church, but it is elegant and slender, harmoniously complementing the main temple. Its domes form a lace crown that beautifully matches the multi-domed Transfiguration Church.

Today, the Intercession Church is active and serves not only as a museum object but also as a place of worship. The first service after a long break took place in the early 1990s, and in 2003, the community was transformed into the Spaso-Kizhi Patriarchal Metochion.

The tent-shaped bell tower, standing between the churches, organically fits into the Kizhi ensemble. Built in 1874 on the site of an old one, it remained silent for almost 60 years, as bell ringing was banned in the USSR from 1929. In 1989, the bells rang again. Currently, the bell tower is equipped with a console for the bell ringer with 12 bells, including 9 ancient and 3 modern. The sound of the bells carries far across the water.

The churches and the bell tower are surrounded by a wooden fence with towers and massive gates, recreated in 1959 based on the model of northern wooden fortifications, as the ancient fence has not survived.

The museum covers more than ten thousand hectares, including Kizhi Island, neighboring islands, and a section of the mainland coast. Here, there are ancient villages and archaeological monuments. Valuable wooden structures, including the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus from the Murom Monastery (14th century), chapels, peasant houses, and farm buildings have been transported to the island from all over Karelia.

The museum has collected 87 architectural monuments. The interiors, exhibitions, and displays reflecting the traditional culture of the peoples of Karelia in the 19th and early 20th centuries have been restored in the buildings. In summer, craftsmen and artisans in ancient costumes demonstrate various crafts: spinning, weaving, lace-making, pottery, and wood carving. Kizhi claims the title of one of the 'Seven Wonders of Russia' and ranks third in the voting of the project.