Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was founded in Lyon, representatives of the Russian community who emigrated in France after the revolution of 1917.

The first temple, founded in 1928, was located in a wooden building on the street Drum. It was named in honour of a famous Saint, and as a reminder of the shot together with the family of Emperor Nikolay the Second. The first Abbot of the temple became the father of Victor (Pushkin), a former Padre.

In 1937 the Church, most likely due to arson, burned down completely. Its restoration began only two years later – for the construction of a stone building chose a new location on Rue Saint-geneviève. The temple was created according to the project of immigrant Sergey Bazdareva. Construction of the Church was conducted by the rector and parishioners on the donations, the work was done in the evenings and on weekends, so the construction is progressing very slowly. Even during the Second world war, despite the bombing and the lack of funds, the work continued. The interior decoration of the temple and continued in the postwar period. The consecration of the Church took place in may 1946.

In the 1970s, the Church after the collapse of the ceiling was repaired. Towards the end of the last century around the Church grew residential neighborhoods, and when next to him was open a metro station, the number of parishioners has increased. One of the icons of the temple dedicated to the Holy St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop of Lyon, who martyred for the faith in the year 202.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Lyon no different rich decoration and original architecture, but it is called the monument of the first wave of emigration and a symbol of love for the Orthodox faith.

In Lyon there are other Russian Orthodox churches – for example, the Church of St. John the Russian.