Small, but incredibly graceful Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is a temple, built of white stone and located in the Vladimir region, a few kilometers from the village of Bogolyubovo. The Church is not only one of the many shrines of the Orthodox religion, but also an outstanding monument of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture.

In numerous literature sources it is believed that the source of most truthfully conveying the founding date of the Church, is a historian Voronin N. N., reporting 1165. Voronin was based on a book devoted to the Life of Andrei Bogolyubsky, stating that the erection of the Church was made in honor of blessed memory Izyaslav Andreevich – dead son of the famous Prince.

The Church was consecrated in honor of the virgin Mary – feast, which in the mid-12th century was celebrated in Russia under the initiative of Andrei Bogolyubsky. Most likely, this is the first in Russia Church of the Intercession.

According to the legend, described in the Life of St. Andrei Bogolyubsky, for the Church was specially selected white stone that was imported from the Bulgar Kingdom. But this assumption is contradicted by the historical facts, and paleontological analyses of the stone used in the construction.

In the last years of the 18th century because of the small income of the Church of the intercession of the Abbot Bogolyubsky monastery wished to take it apart into components for the construction of the monastery bell tower, but it completely lacked money.

It is worth noting the fact that the location of the Church is unique, because the Church building stands in the lowland. Originally near the Church was the site of the confluence of the Nerl river in Klyaz'ma, but today the bed of these rivers has changed direction. The temple was actually located on a river crossroads, gracefully placing the crossroads of important trade waterways.

Church of the Intercession stands on a man-made hill. The Foundation is ordinary belonging to the belt type, and was laid at a depth of 1, 6 m; its height was 3, 7 m. the Walls were an extension of the Foundation and were completely covered with clay soil artificially created hill that was lined with the help of white stone. It turns out that the Foundation was directed towards the depths of 5 m – this technology helped to withstand the high elevation of the river.

Far well preserved main volume, presents several elongated along the line of the longitudinal axis of the quadrangle. The size of the main volume is 8 to 7 m at the side of the dome square in 3, 2 m. the Church has one head. The Church belongs to the cross-domed type and is three, four pillars, domed, and is also equipped with the arcature-columnar zone and unique portals. Temple walls is strictly vertical by reason of elaborately selected proportions – that's why they look slightly bent inwards, which creates the illusion of a tall building. Responsible for the interior of a cross pillars are converging to the top, and also creates the impression of a tall building.

Dividing the North and South walls of the Church of the Intercession asymmetrical and located on the Eastern side of the curtain is somewhat narrow. It should be noted that the sum of the width of wall curtain walls and protrusions located on the sides of the apse, is effectively equal to the width of the middle wall curtain walls, because of what the overall composition of the temple looks quite balanced on all sides. There are multi-profiled pilasters, fitted with semi-columns, which are located on the outside of the walls of the Church and fully comply with existing internal blades.

On the walls of the Church of the Intercession of the virgin Mary are carved reliefs. The Central figure in a complex composite of three facades is king David, the Psalmist, seated on a throne and holding in his hand psaltery – this design includes figures of lions, birds, and some of the female mask. All the original paintings of the Church were completely lost in 1877.

To date, many researchers have noted the extraordinary sophistication of the forms of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, which is worthy to rank its most beautiful Orthodox churches.