Information about the first temple in the name of the Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Belozersk refers to the 16th century. At this time the church belonged to the Apostles Peter and Paul Church Convent, which in the second half of the 16th century became a monastery. After the Polish-Lithuanian devastation of the city in 1612, the monastery was closed, and the poor lived in its cells for a long time. Later, in 1620, the former minsters – of the Apostles Peter and Paul and John Chrysostom - were converted to parish churches.
The stone building of the temple appeared in 1770 on the site of two dilapidated wooden churches.
The high central part of the temple from the west was adjoined by a low ceiling refectory with simple double-pitch roof, and from the east there was a five-sided perch in which the altar was found. The main part of the temple was crowned with a domed roof with five small heads. The three-tier bell tower was completed by a tall roof of complex shape with a long spire. The bell chamber was on the third eight-sided tier, and in the second tier a small church was arranged. The perch of its altar dedicated to the holy unmercenary doctors Cosmas and Damian, was located above the refectory.
The corners of the temple were decorated with flat protrusions - pilasters. Under the roof there was a triple cornice with a curb stone. The windows were bordered with sculptured and decorated cross-pieces.
At the end of the 19th there were about 20 temples in the ancient Belozersk. At the beginning of the 20th century Russian photographer and inventor Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky visited Belozersk. He captured on camera almost every temple in the city, including the Apostles Peter and Paul Church.
In the Soviet times the temple was closed. The upper tiers of the bell tower were dismantled. In the northern and southern walls of the original refectory wide arches were made. In the main space of the temple two more floors were constructed. The character of the interior was completely changed, the finishing was lost. In 2010, the restoration of the monument was carried out: the rubble masonry of the foundations was reinforced, the walls were covered with moisture protection, the roof and walls were repaired, the porch was lined. But the original view was not fully restored. The building of the former church housed the Museum of the History of the Region. In 2016 the church was transferred to the Cherepovets diocese, a parish was created.
The stone building of the temple appeared in 1770 on the site of two dilapidated wooden churches.
The high central part of the temple from the west was adjoined by a low ceiling refectory with simple double-pitch roof, and from the east there was a five-sided perch in which the altar was found. The main part of the temple was crowned with a domed roof with five small heads. The three-tier bell tower was completed by a tall roof of complex shape with a long spire. The bell chamber was on the third eight-sided tier, and in the second tier a small church was arranged. The perch of its altar dedicated to the holy unmercenary doctors Cosmas and Damian, was located above the refectory.
The corners of the temple were decorated with flat protrusions - pilasters. Under the roof there was a triple cornice with a curb stone. The windows were bordered with sculptured and decorated cross-pieces.
At the end of the 19th there were about 20 temples in the ancient Belozersk. At the beginning of the 20th century Russian photographer and inventor Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky visited Belozersk. He captured on camera almost every temple in the city, including the Apostles Peter and Paul Church.
In the Soviet times the temple was closed. The upper tiers of the bell tower were dismantled. In the northern and southern walls of the original refectory wide arches were made. In the main space of the temple two more floors were constructed. The character of the interior was completely changed, the finishing was lost. In 2010, the restoration of the monument was carried out: the rubble masonry of the foundations was reinforced, the walls were covered with moisture protection, the roof and walls were repaired, the porch was lined. But the original view was not fully restored. The building of the former church housed the Museum of the History of the Region. In 2016 the church was transferred to the Cherepovets diocese, a parish was created.
