Zalegoshchensky District: Churches and Tolstoy’s Footsteps

• The Church of the Archangel Michael in Grachevka was built in 1828.
• The Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Kazar was completed in 1838 and later restored. It stands on the high, open bank of the Neruch River.
• Leo Tolstoy visited Kochety repeatedly; in October 1900, he spent about two weeks at his son-in-law’s house.
• A monument to glory in the district’s administrative center features bas-reliefs honoring the Heroes of the Soviet Union.

The Church of the Archangel Michael in Grachevka is an architectural monument from the early 19th century. Its construction date, 1828, is supplemented by details about its funders: the construction was financed by M. S. Sukhotin, Golitsyn, the estate owner of the village of Grachevka, and Leo Tolstoy. The building’s history is thus connected with several people named individually.

In Kazar, the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God stands on the high, open bank of the Neruch. It was completed in 1838 and later restored. Its full name is the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God with a side chapel of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr. Its construction date, dedication, and location by the river offer different clues for understanding the site. If you would like to visit the church, check access in advance.

Leo Tolstoy visited Kochety repeatedly in the 1900s and also came for the local fairs. One more precisely dated episode took place in October 1900, when he spent about two weeks at his son-in-law’s house in Kochety. His repeated visits and this particular, date-specific stay are two distinct aspects of his connection with the place.

Another historical connection leads to Setukha. Zinaida Sergeyevna Sverbieva–Trubetskaya, the daughter of a Decembrist, lived there for more than 50 years. Her long association with the place adds a different biography to the sites connected with Tolstoy.

In the district’s administrative center, the bas-reliefs on the monument to glory commemorate the Heroes of the Soviet Union. This offers a distinct way to explore the district’s culture of remembrance, alongside the churches’ architectural history and the literary connections to Kochety.

Zhelyabuga is also connected to the area’s religious history by a dated event: on December 24, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to open a monastery for men in honor of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr. The date refers to the decision to open the monastery; it does not describe current visiting conditions.

Those who extend their trip beyond Zalegoshchensky District to include Oryol Oblast will find other nature and culture attractions there. Founded in 1994, Oryol Polesye National Park lies in the northwest of the oblast and covers 77,745 hectares. The park has more than 80 equipped tourist rest and picnic areas. On the “In the Kingdom of the Water Lily” ecological trail, visitors can observe water lilies in bloom; the safari zoo is home to more than 30 animal and bird species.

Another highlight is the Spasskoye-Lutovinovo estate. It was the family estate of Ivan Turgenev’s mother in Mtsensk District; several of his works, including “Rudin” and “Fathers and Sons,” are associated with the estate. The main house and outbuildings are surrounded by an old park, laid out by I. I. Lutovinov, the founder of the Spasskoye estate, around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can go boating on Spassky Pond, and horse-drawn carriage rides are available in the park. Before your trip, check whether these activities are available on your dates.

Discover more destinations: Orlovskiy rayon, Pokrovsky District, Khotynetsky District, Livenskiy rayon, gorod Mtsensk, Bolkhovsky District, Orel.

When was the Church of the Archangel Michael in Grachevka built?

It was built in 1828. Its funders included M. S. Sukhotin, Golitsyn, the estate owner of Grachevka, and Leo Tolstoy.

What is known about the church in Kazar?

The Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God was completed in 1838 and later restored. It stands on the high, open bank of the Neruch and has a side chapel of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr.

What was Tolstoy’s connection to Kochety?

He visited the place repeatedly in the 1900s and spent about two weeks at his son-in-law’s house in October 1900.

What nature and cultural destinations are there in Oryol Oblast?

Oryol Polesye National Park has, among other things, an ecological trail, a safari zoo, and more than 80 equipped rest and picnic areas. The Spasskoye-Lutovinovo estate combines a historic park with connections to Turgenev’s works.

For the broader travel overview: Oryol Oblast.