The Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow stands at Novozavodskaya Street 6 in the Fili district, about ten minutes on foot from Fili Metro. It was commissioned by the boyar Lev Naryshkin on the Fili estate he acquired in 1689, and it is regarded as the first church in the style known as Naryshkin Baroque.
The church was built between 1690 and 1693, and has red brick walls with lavish white-stone decoration. This guide explains how to find the church, what the two levels are, how the church relates to the Andrey Rublev Museum and to Fili Park, what the interior displays, which Metro station is nearest, how the opening hours are listed, and how to combine the visit with a walk in the Fili area.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Церковь Покрова в Филях |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1693 |
| Architect(s) | Presumed Yakov Bukhvostov |
| Address | Novozavodskaya Street 6, Moscow (near Bolshaya Filyovskaya Street) |
| District | Fili-Davydkovo |
| Metro | Fili (Line 4, light blue, about 500 meters, a walk of about 10 minutes) |
| Opening hours | A listing gives the church and museum as open daily from 08:00 to 17:00, which should be confirmed, since it is a museum branch with its own schedule and a day off may apply (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | A visitor listing mentions a budget-priced ticket (₽) for the museum on the upper floor, but the official price list was not read; check the official site. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and autumn brings color to the surrounding trees. The church is open daily according to a listing, but the museum may close on a weekday, so check the hours. |
| Recommended duration | About 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Website | pokrov-fili.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The exterior and the surrounding grounds | Included in the standard ticket | Can be seen from the street and the gallery approaches; check access to the gallery. |
| The museum display in the church | Separate ticket or institution | Has its own ticket as a branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum; check the official site. |
| Services in the church | Separate ticket or institution | Follow the church's schedule; the building is mainly a museum, so check whether services are held. |
| The Andrey Rublev Museum | Outside / not part of it | The main museum in a different part of the city; see the Andrey Rublev Museum Moscow guide. |
| Fili Park | Outside / not part of it | A separate park nearby; see the Fili Park Moscow guide. |
| Closed or restored areas | Not open to visitors | Not open to visitors. |
Why Visit Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow?
The church is the starting point of a style: the first Naryshkin Baroque church, whose red brick walls and white-stone decoration inspired many later churches in Moscow. It was built in 1690 to 1693, and its architect is presumed to be Yakov Bukhvostov.
It contains two churches, one above the other: a winter church of the Intercession in the lower level and a summer, unheated church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands above, reached by broad exterior staircases with a gallery around the building. In the 20th century it became a branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum. It is a short, easy stop in a part of the city few tourists visit.
How Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow Is Laid Out
The church stands at Novozavodskaya Street 6, near Bolshaya Filyovskaya Street, about 500 meters from Fili Metro. It is a two-level building: the winter church of the Intercession is on the lower level and the summer church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands is above it.
Wide staircases lead up to a gallery that runs around the building, and the red brick walls carry white-stone window frames and ornament. The church is run as a branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture, with a museum display on the upper level, according to a visitor listing. Check the official site for which levels are open and the current entrance.
Highlights of Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
The red-and-white facade
The church has red brick walls with lavish white-stone decoration, the hallmark of Naryshkin Baroque, and it was built between 1690 and 1693 for the boyar Lev Naryshkin. The first church in this style, it inspired many later buildings in Moscow. Look at the tiers of the building and the carved window frames. Check the lighting for photographs.
Tip: View the church from the park side for the best photographs of the tiers.
Two churches on two levels
The church contains two churches: a winter church of the Intercession on the lower level, in memory of the old wooden church of Fili, and a summer, unheated church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands above. Look for the staircases that connect the levels. Check which level is open.
Tip: Start with the lower level, then climb to the upper one.
The galleries and staircases
Large sprawling staircases lead up to a gallery that surrounds the church, a typical feature of this style. Look at the carved details along the gallery. Check whether the gallery is open to visitors.
Tip: Take the steps slowly, since they can be slippery in wet weather.
The Naryshkin story
Lev Naryshkin, an uncle of Peter the Great, acquired the village of Fili in 1689 and built the church; his sister Natalia and her son Peter were frequent guests and donated money to it. Check the museum's history page for details.
Tip: Read about the Naryshkins before you visit.
The Andrey Rublev Museum branch
The church was restored from 1952 to 1980 and then opened as a branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture, which is why part of it works as a museum, with a separate ticket according to a visitor listing. See the Andrey Rublev Museum Moscow guide for the main museum.
Tip: Check the museum's days and the ticket on the official site.
The Narva clock
In the 18th century the church was equipped with a clock taken from Narva, according to one source. Look for the clock if it is on show. Check whether it is on display.
Tip: Ask a museum attendant about the clock.
Atmosphere
The church rises in red and white above a quiet street of a district that is far from the tourist center, its tiers and carved windows stark against the sky. Inside, the lower church is low-ceilinged and hushed, and the upper level is brighter and airier.
Visitors are architecture enthusiasts, museum visitors and a few local residents, and the church is rarely crowded. Weekday mornings are the quietest. In autumn the surrounding trees add color to the red brick.
History of Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
In 1689 the village of Fili was acquired by Lev Kirillovich Naryshkin, the brother of Natalia Naryshkina and an uncle of Peter the Great. A wooden church of the Intercession had stood there in the time of the earlier owner, Fyodor Mstislavsky, and in 1693 Naryshkin rebuilt it as a magnificent stone church, which is said to have been dedicated in memory of his brothers murdered in the Moscow Uprising of 1682.
The church was built between 1690 and 1693, with the architect presumed to be Yakov Bukhvostov, and it became the model of the style known as Naryshkin Baroque. It contains two churches, a winter Intercession church below and a summer church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands above. Natalia and Peter were frequent guests at Fili, and in the 18th century the church received a clock from Narva.
The territory has belonged to the city of Moscow since 1935. In Soviet times the church was looted and damaged, restoration works started in 1952 and continued intermittently until 1980, and the church was then opened as a branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources give construction dates of 1690 to 1693 or 1693.
Tickets and Booking for Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Tickets. The museum display on the upper level is a ticketed branch of the Andrey Rublev Museum, and a visitor listing mentions a budget-priced ticket (₽) without English texts, which should be confirmed because the official price list was not read; no online booking window was verified. Viewing the exterior is free. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ, so check the official site pokrov-fili.ru for all categories and the current hours.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option at the ticket desk. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
45 minutes
Walk from Fili Metro to Novozavodskaya Street, see the facade, climb to the upper level and return.
2 hours
Add a walk in Fili Park and the river bank.
Half day
Combine the church with the Andrey Rublev Museum in the east, to compare the two institutions of old Russian art.
How to Get to Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Take the Metro to Fili (Line 4, light blue) and walk about 500 meters, roughly 10 minutes, along Novozavodskaya Street to number 6; a visitor describes it as half a kilometer or a little more.
- By taxi: ask for Novozavodskaya Street 6, the Church of the Intercession at Fili.
- On foot: the church is near Bolshaya Filyovskaya Street.
- Orientation: look for the red and white church with the broad exterior staircases.
Accessibility
The church has broad exterior staircases and upper levels, and accessibility facilities such as lifts and ramps were not verified, so check pokrov-fili.ru or call before you go.
Food Nearby
The streets near Fili Metro and Bolshaya Filyovskaya have shops and cafes; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a scarf if you are a woman and wish to follow the custom of covering your head, comfortable shoes for the steps, and a translation app, since museum texts may be in Russian only.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
The church from the park side
The tiered red and white church framed by trees.
Best time: Late afternoon.
The exterior staircases
Broad stairs leading up to the carved gallery.
Best time: Morning light.
The carved white-stone details
Window frames and ornament against the red brick.
Best time: Overcast days.
The church in autumn
Red brick behind golden leaves.
Best time: Autumn afternoons.
Photography Rules
Photography rules inside the museum and the church were not verified, so ask staff and follow signs; flash is usually not allowed, and drones must not be flown over the area without permission.
Family Suitability
Suitable for older children interested in history or architecture, with a short visit; the staircases are steep and the museum texts are mostly in Russian. Stroller access was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Read about Naryshkin Baroque before you go, since the church is its first example.
- Do not confuse the church with Fili Park, a separate park nearby.
- Climb to the upper level for the museum display and the view of the gallery.
- Check the museum's days, since the church works as a museum branch.
- Visit on a weekday for the quietest visit.
- Combine it with the Fili Park River Pier if you like boat trips in summer.
Explore Nearby Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Sights near Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Fili Park Moscowabout 1.3 km away (~21 min walk) · typical visit: About 2 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Andrey Rublev Museum Moscowabout 10.0 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Only Love Is Above Observation Deck Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Borodino Battle Panorama Museum Moscowabout 1.6 km away (~25 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
PANORAMA360 Moscowabout 1.7 km away (~28 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Victory Museum Moscowabout 2.3 km away · typical visit: 3–5 hours with the open-air areaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Fili Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Fili Park River Pierabout 2.2 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Fili-Davydkovo · All Churches · All Sightseeing
FAQ: Church of the Intercession at Fili Moscow
Who built the church?
The boyar Lev Naryshkin; the architect is presumed to be Yakov Bukhvostov.
When was it built?
Between 1690 and 1693.
What is Naryshkin Baroque?
A style of red brick and white-stone decoration, first used in this church.
Which Metro station is closest?
Fili, about 10 minutes on foot.
Is it an active church?
It is mainly a museum branch; check whether services are held.
Is it part of the Andrey Rublev Museum?
Yes, it is a branch of that museum since 1980.
Is it inside Fili Park?
No. It is a separate site on Novozavodskaya Street.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
See also: Russian architectural highlights.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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