Nestled in the small village of Yaropolets, the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, has witnessed some of Russia’s most important historical events, from the German occupation during World War II to religious repression under Khrushchev.<br /><br />Local legend has it that a key to Berlin, seized by Count Zakhar Grigoryevich Chernyshev following his infamous 1760 raid on the city, was once stored in the church. In an ironic twist of fate, the Germans then took back the key in 1941, when they occupied the area.<br /><br />Following its closure, the building was abandoned and looted. The first restorative work on the historic church began in April 2016, but it will likely take hundreds of millions of roubles to complete.<br />
