Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, Slobodzeya

The history of Christian worship in Slobodzeya stretches back to the era of Turkish rule, when the town’s very first church stood here — a modest wooden wattle structure with a reed roof that served the early community’s spiritual needs. In 1804, this was replaced by a substantial new stone Church of the Archangel Michael, built at the expense of local parishioners who came together to fund this more permanent place of worship.

The Soviet era brought a series of secular repurposings that progressively distanced the building from its religious function: first converted into a club, then closed entirely, before being transferred to the state bank in the post-war period — each transformation moving the building further from its original sacred purpose.

By the late 1980s, spiritual life in Slobodzeya had begun a gradual revival. The Orthodox community formally registered during this period devoted considerable effort to reclaiming the church building for the parish, a goal they successfully achieved in 1990 when the building was officially returned to the faithful. The church’s particularly revered shrines include the Icon of the Mother of God “Sorrowful” and the Icon of St. Stephen Slobodzeya (Kostogryz), both objects of special veneration within this historic congregation.

Address: 17, Mikoyana str., Slobodzeya
Phone: +373 557 24139