Evgeny Lyulin checked the progress of the restoration of the church in the village of Khmelevitsy.

      July 10, 2026 17:58 Society The Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin, during his visit to the Shakhunsky municipal district, got acquainted with the progress of work on the revival of the church in honor of the Venerable Macarius of Unzha. The stone church, built in 1813 in the classical style, was closed in 1937 and remained in disrepair for many years. In 2025, 313 years after the consecration of the first Macarius church in the village, Bishop Paramon of Gorodets and Vetluga blessed the start of restoration work. During the visit, the chairman of the regional parliament discussed the upcoming stages of restoration with the church rector. Special attention was paid to the technical side of the issue: specialists will need to assess the condition of the walls and their ability to withstand the loads from future vaults and domes. For this, a conclusion from relevant experts will be required. Currently, work is underway to restore the arch between the square and the refectory part of the church, as well as preparations for pouring the floor with concrete—this will allow the repair of the square vault to begin. At the same time, issues related to window installation, material procurement, and heating organization are being resolved.

      Evgeny Lyulin noted that the restoration of the church has become a common cause for local residents. The main assistance comes from parishioners and entrepreneurs of the village; however, in the current economic conditions, funds are insufficient. Nevertheless, up to a hundred people regularly come to volunteer days—not only from Shakhunya but also from neighboring villages. It is noteworthy that among the volunteers, there are many young people and individuals who previously did not attend church. "I am convinced that the restoration of churches marks the revival of the villages themselves. This is our history, faith, and traditions. Even now, alongside the work, volunteers are cleaning the areas, helping in any way they can, and the entire district is coming to life. When people take on a task with faith and soul—everything works out. God blesses and helps in such endeavors," said the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin. The speaker of the regional parliament also reminded that prayers for the soldiers defending the Motherland are regularly offered in the revived churches of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The restoration of the Macarius church in Khmelevitsy is part of a large-scale program for the preservation and revival of churches in the Nizhny Novgorod metropolis. Work continues, and as Evgeny Lyulin noted, the main thing is that it is carried out with soul and for the benefit of all residents of the region. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+