One of the oldest Orthodox churches of the city of Kostroma became the Church of the Evangelist and Holy Apostle John the theologian, belonging to Galich and Kostroma diocese. The temple is believed to be the original cultural heritage of the Russian Federation, and refers to cultural sites.

Construction of the Church of St. John the Evangelist had in 1687 year. Today it is close to a large Ipatievsky monastery, which is located on the street, dedicated to the writer Eugene Osetrova in the Ipatiev settlement.

The first wooden Church was a small Church, built in 1562, but in 1680 it was completely destroyed in a devastating fire. The following year, after the tragic events, namely in 1681, construction work has commenced on erection of the new Church, which received the blessing of Patriarch Joachim. It should be noted that the size of the planned building of the Church were much more so for the building was given not only the former but also located near the place where at the time there was a Church in the name of St. Nicholas, which burned down in 1680. The completion of construction works occurred in 1687, and on December 11 of the same year was consecrated the newly-built Church by Archimandrite Theodosius the Abbot of the Ipatiev monastery.

From the point of view of the architectural component of the Church of the Evangelist and Holy Apostle John the theologian is a great interest. Looking at the temple, you can immediately determine that it is made in the Baroque style with some traditional elements of classicism. Wedding temple made with five cupolas. From the West side to the main room of the temple refectory room, which, in turn, refers belfry. The exterior of the temple is very similar to the Trinity Cathedral, housed in the Ipatiev monastery and nearby. For example, at the Cathedral of St. John the theologian few chapters are flattened, much like the domes of the Trinity Cathedral.

One of the main attractions of the temple of St. John the Evangelist are the murals that adorn the interior and takes up most of its space. Painting of the Church was carried out by local people from the Ipatiev settlement; it is important that all the names of artists written out in a list on the stigma that has been preserved on the North wall.

In the 18th century the Church was rebuilt, it was built two chapels, one of which was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas, and the second in the name of the Theodore icon of the mother of God. Around the perimeter of the temple was built of stone fence that runs along the Church cemetery. In 1811 three gates were built.

In the early years of the 20th century the Church of St. John the theologian was again rebuilt: two former chapels were demolished and in their place made a new refectory room with several new chapels. During construction works chief engineer was I. V. Bryukhanov. The end of the work occurred in 1903.

Over a long period of time, until 1949, the Church constantly the service was held. In mid-1949 the Church of St. John the theologian was closed. Soon the building of the temple began to be carried out restoration and construction work carried out by the specialized Kostroma scientific restoration of a large industrial workshop; completion of all work occurred in late 1960.

Some time later, in the temple came the exposition concerning the Kostroma historical and architectural Museum. During the 1970s, under the leadership of architect K. G. the Toropa river restoration was carried out of all the gates and fences. Later, when the Museum in Kostroma Ipatiev monastery was located on the greater part of its territory, in the Church of the Evangelist and Apostle John the theologian has worked the community at the Ipatievsky monastery.

To date, since 2005, the Church is wholly owned by DNO and Kostroma diocese. In the Church, still, two chapels: Fedorovskiy and Nicholas. The temple is in good condition, but soon kept small repairs.