The Stroganov or Strogonov family (Russian: Строгановы? or Строгоновы), often spelled Stroganoff, is a rich and famous family from Russia of merchants, entrepreneurs, landowners and statesmen who lived between the 16th and 20th centuries.
Stroganov Church: built in 1719 on a donation from the legendary Stroganov dynasty of merchants, it dominates the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. It is a dazzling example of Russian Baroque, with multicolored ornate domes and lavishly decorated inside with marble, beautiful frescoes and gold-covered icons. The church stands out for its colorful exterior and delicate ornamentation. Considered as one of the best examples of Russian architecture, it was built in the Stroganov Baroque style and adorned with stunningly beautiful decorations. Situated among quiet, rolling hills, the Stroganov Christmas Church has been a testament to endurance and triumph for centuries.
The five-domed Stroganov Christmas Church is now the architectural pride of Nizhny Novgorod.
Rich stucco moldings with vine-shaped ornaments, wreaths of flowers and fruit adorn its colorful exterior walls, giving it a pleasant and elegant appearance. The interior decor of the Stroganov Church is no less stunning. Light enters through the drums and windows of the upper floors of the small prayer hall, flooding the gold-covered iconostasis with sunlight.
The iconostasis itself is magnificent, having been cut from basswood and assembled without the use of a single nail or any glue.
The church of Natale Stroganov extends from west to east and is accompanied by an octagonal bell tower. In the first level of the tower there is a solemn arch that serves as the main entrance, while the bell towers occupy the third and fourth levels.
