Makovo and the stone Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God

Makovo was formerly known as the village of Inyakhino with the settlement of Makovaya. Makovo had a parish church before 1616. The stone church was built by Pyotr Andreyevich Kolychev on the site of a wooden church that was demolished in 1772. An exact construction date for the stone building is not included in these details.

As of January 2020, regular services were held in the church. If you are planning a visit, check access in advance.

The church has a refectory with a bell tower attached to it. Both sections were built at the same time as the church; the refectory was later enlarged, in 1859. This makes it possible to distinguish several building phases in the complex without conflating the earlier wooden church with the stone building.

The refectory contains two side chapels. One is dedicated to Saint Demetrius of Rostov and Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow; the other to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The exterior of the stone church is plastered. Visitors interested in architecture and religious history will find several specific features in one building: the site of the former wooden church, the refectory extension and the different dedications of the chapels.

One of Ryazan Oblast’s key natural attractions is Meshchersky National Park. It covers 103,014 hectares in the Ryazansky and Klepikovsky districts. The floodplains of the Oka and Pra rivers within the park were designated wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1994. Of the ten developed tourist routes, six are water routes; check their current availability directly with the park.

The national park also has five ecological educational trails. The long “Paustovsky Trail” extends to Kordon 273; the shorter trails are called “Okno v prirodu,” “Tyukov grad - Chernaya gora,” “Zapovednaya priroda” and “U zavodi.” This means that water routes and educational trails are both part of the region’s range of attractions. The trail names and the Paustovsky Trail’s endpoint help distinguish the routes on offer.

The museums of Ryazan Oblast also offer a variety of perspectives. The Museum of Wooden Architecture in Lunkino displays artistic wood carvings, painted wood, willow weaving and other exhibits; around 3,500 items are on display in total. The Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve in Kasimov has more than 40,000 collection items and offers craft workshops at its “School of Crafts.” For workshop details, check the museum’s visitor information for schedules and booking.

At the Georgy Wagner Historical and Archaeological Museum in Spassk-Ryazansky, archaeological and paleontological collections are presented alongside a natural history section on the wildlife of the Oksky Nature Reserve. A diorama of Old Ryazan and archaeological finds illustrate the history of the Grand Duchy of Ryazan. The galleries also cover the history, daily life and culture of the Spassky area from antiquity to the mid-20th century.

Other regional attractions range from Veniz lace-making in Kadom to the international ceramics festival in Skopin, held every two years. The name Veniz came from shortening the word “Venetian”; imported materials were also adapted to local production. The arboretum at the Khudekov Estate in Erlino is home to 88 tree and shrub species from 17 families and 42 genera; the estate’s visitor programs also include horseback riding.

For planning purposes, it helps to distinguish the themes clearly: here, Makovo represents the architectural and local history of a church. Ryazan Oblast also offers its own natural, museum and craft attractions. If you are looking for a hotel, first decide whether Makovo’s local history or a broader look at the region will shape your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Zelenaya Polyana, Stepanovo, Syntul, Kasimov, Ivashkovo, Sasykino, Sorokino and Luzhki.

Who are the side chapels dedicated to?

One chapel is dedicated to Saint Demetrius of Rostov and Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow. The other is dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

What happened to the former wooden church?

It was demolished in 1772. Pyotr Andreyevich Kolychev had the stone Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God built on its site.

How many of the developed routes in Meshchersky National Park are water routes?

Of the ten developed tourist routes, six are water routes. Check their current availability directly with the national park.

For the broader travel overview: Ryazan Oblast.