What the largest church of Saint Nina in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia looks like

      On May 8, 2026, at 12:01 Culture and Leisure In Nizhny Novgorod, on May 6, a church was consecrated in honor of Saint Nina, the enlightener of Georgia. In 2026, it will be 1700 years since Georgia adopted Orthodoxy, and the new church building has become one of the landmark projects dedicated to this date. The new church is considered the tallest and most spacious church of Saint Nina in Russia. The height of the building is 28 meters, and it can accommodate up to 800 people at the same time. Construction began in 2017 at the initiative of the Georgian community of Nizhny Novgorod and with the blessing of Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. The project was developed by the LLC "Regional Engineering Center" under the leadership of Yuri Koval. In 2021, a cross of an unusual shape for Russian churches was consecrated for the church dome. It is made in the form of an isosceles cross with expanding arms. This type is called the Bolnisi cross, named after the Bolnisi Sioni, one of the oldest Christian churches in Georgia, whose construction dates back to the 5th century. The building is constructed in the traditions of Georgian Orthodox architecture. The frescoes are made in the style of Georgian icon painting from the flourishing period of Saint Queen Tamar in the 12th century. The church gallery houses a museum exhibition. One part is dedicated to the history of relations between Russia and Georgia, while the other is dedicated to Prince Georgy Alexandrovich of Georgia, related places in the Nizhny Novgorod region, and the history of the Georgian Church. Photo: Maxim Gerasimov The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+