The true gem of pre-revolutionary architecture in the ancient Russian city of Serpukhov is considered to be the Old Believer Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, built between 1908 and 1910. This magnificent temple was designed by the famous Russian architect of Minsk origin, Mieczysław Gustawowicz Piotrowicz. The church was constructed on the site of a wooden temple from the first half of the 19th century, and the funding for the construction was provided by the wealthy Serpukhov merchant of the first guild, Anna Vasilyevna Maraeva. According to some reports, Anna Vasilyevna was motivated to make such a generous sacrifice by the tragic death of her young daughter Anna, who died from severe injuries after falling from a horse during a riding lesson. In memory of her daughter, the woman donated an icon of her heavenly patroness, Saint Martyr Anfisa, to the new church, which was painted in the pre-revolutionary period and has survived to this day. When visiting the church, you can see this icon.

The Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin was built of red brick in the best traditions of the neo-Russian style of the early 20th century. Interestingly, this single-domed church with a tented bell tower has become almost the only example of an altar-less church in the southern part of the Moscow region. Fortunately, during the Soviet years, the church was not destroyed and continued to function, which allowed this beautiful example of Russian architecture to be preserved. In 1988, the building of the church was transferred to the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum, which still has its branch here. The former church now hosts weekly tours, various exhibitions, and classes on the history of Russian icon painting, attended by schoolchildren and their parents.