St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church is a cultural tourism attraction.

St. Nicholas Church is located to the east of Dongzhimen North Street. The establishment of an Eastern Orthodox church in Beijing dates back to 1685 (the 24th year of the Kangxi reign). During the Qing government’s defensive counterattack at the Battle of Yaksa, Russian invaders were captured. Among the 59 prisoners brought to Beijing was a priest. Emperor Kangxi designated a Guan Yu Temple in Huyuan Lane, inside Dongzhimen, as a temporary prayer site for the captives. This site came to be known among locals as the “Russian Temple” or the “Northern Chapel.” After 1689 (the 28th year of the Kangxi reign), the Russian diocese named it St. Nicholas Church (also referred to as St. Sophia Church, later changed to the Church of the Dormition), making it the first Eastern Orthodox church in Beijing.

The Eastern Orthodox St. Nicholas Church was destroyed in 1900 but was later rebuilt and renamed the “Zhisizhuang Church.” It consisted of the main church, bell tower, Chinese and foreign libraries, priests’ residences, and a widows’ quarters. Zhisizhuang Church was a typical cross-shaped Eastern Orthodox church, with five arched towers topped with crosses on its roof. After its expansion in 1900, it was renamed the “Zhimusi Church,” commonly referred to as the “Northern Chapel.”