In the village of Onbia, they have started to restore the abandoned ancient church.

      The first step towards revival

      On August 9, a volunteer trip took place to the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Onbia in the Zainsk district. This event marked the first step towards the revival of the ancient church, which had stood in neglect for many years. The works were attended by the archpriest of the Zainsk district, Father Rodion Sadykov, parishioners of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the city of Zainsk, as well as active youth from the Kazan Cathedral in the city of Almetyevsk. They were joined by local residents and the head of the Chubuklinsky rural settlement, Ilfat Gadershin. photo: author

      Labor under prayer

      Before the work began in the church, a moleben was sung to ask for blessings and help from the Lord. After the common prayer, each participant began their duties. Throughout the day, volunteers carried out cleaning work in the altar area of the church and at the main entrance, removing the first layers of dirt in the central part of the building. A significant amount of work was also done in the adjacent territory — the participants of the clean-up cut down old overgrown trees around the church that obstructed access and created unnecessary shade. "Together with the parishioners of the churches in our diocese, wearing respirators, gloves, and changeable clothes, we managed to lay the foundation for restoration. It was not easy, dusty, hard to breathe, but looking at how eagerly and diligently people worked, my soul rejoiced and I found strength from somewhere," Father Rodion said.

      Returned relic

      A particularly significant moment in the middle of the workday was the bringing of an ancient icon of the healer and great martyr Panteleimon into the church. This image is a genuine relic for the village of Onbia: it was miraculously preserved by a pious local family during the years of persecution and kept for many decades. After the solemn glorification, each participant of the clean-up was able to venerate the holy image, which gave everyone special spiritual strength. The workday concluded with a communal tea party organized by the youth department of the diocese.

      Weather test and unity

      The weather on that day tested the volunteers' endurance: a heavy, prolonged rain fell in the morning, but, according to the participants, as soon as they arrived at the site, the precipitation stopped. Despite the cloudy sky and dampness, everyone worked tirelessly, not sparing their strength. On this day, the church finally awaited its first real steps towards salvation and cleansing from years of debris. It is worth noting that during the Soviet era, the building was used as a warehouse for storing fertilizers and chemicals, so there is still a lot of work ahead. photo: author

      "This is just the beginning"

      Father Rodion shared his impressions from the trip, noting that the idea to restore the church had originated in him last year. "Once, when I arrived in the village of Onbia in 2025, I saw a majestic yet very orphaned and unwanted church, which brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to do at least something, even a small part of the work. And thank God, this happened a year later. On August 9, we managed to come and work for the glory of God in His house. We did a lot of work, but this is just the beginning, and there is still much labor ahead," he said. All participants noted the incredible unity and joy that prevailed during the clean-up, and the small breaks for lunch, even in the drizzling rain, did not overshadow the overall inspiration.

      Plans for the future

      The parishioners still have a long way to go: they need to clean the walls, tidy up the interior decoration, and the facade. However, a good start has been made, and, with God's help, similar trips to Onbia will be organized again this year. Father Rodion expressed gratitude to everyone who participated in this God-pleasing endeavor and promised to announce the date of the next outing later. "May the Lord protect all who care about the fate of our relics," he said.

      Reference

      Until the 1860s, there was a wooden church in the village of Onbia, but over time it became dilapidated and could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. Then the locals decided to build a new stone church. The construction was carried out on public donations from 1868 to 1875. A standard project by architect Konstantin Ton was used as the basis. The church had two altars: the right altar was consecrated in 1875 in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God, and the main one was consecrated in 1882 in the name of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The building is executed in the style of classicism, and the Empire gates of the fence have been preserved. After 1936, the church was closed and used as a warehouse, losing its bell tower and the completion of the central volume.

      Roza Ilaltdinova

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