One of the oldest Orthodox churches in Kostroma was the Evangelist Church and St. John Divine belonging to Galich and Kostroma diocese. The temple is considered to be a true cultural heritage of the Russian Federation and refers to cultural sites.

The construction of the temple of St. John the Divine were in 1687. Today it is close to a large Ipatiev Monastery, which is located on the street dedicated to the writer Eugene sturgeon Hypatian settlement.

The first wooden church was a small temple, built in 1562, but in 1680 it was completely destroyed by a devastating fire. The following year, after the tragic events, namely in 1681, were initiated construction work on the construction of a new church on what was received the blessing of Patriarch Joachim. It is worth noting that the size of the planned building of the church was much more so for the construction was given not only to the former, but also located near the place where once there was a church in the name of St. Nicholas, burned down in 1680. End of construction work came in 1687, and on December 11 the same year the church was consecrated novovystroennogo Archimandrite Theodosius - the abbot of the monastery Ipatiev.

In terms of the architectural component of the Temple the Evangelist and St. John Divine it is of great interest. Looking at the temple, we can immediately determine that it is in the Baroque style with some elements of the traditional classicism. Wedding Temple accomplished by five domes. On the west side to the main room of the temple is adjacent refectory room, to which, in turn, refers belfry. The exterior of the temple is very similar to the Trinity Cathedral in the Ipatiev Monastery current and located nearby. For example, the church of St. John the Evangelist several flattened head than look very much like the dome of Trinity Cathedral.

One of the main attractions are the temple of St. John the Evangelist murals that decorate the interior and occupy a large part of his space. The painting of the temple was carried out by local people from Hypatian settlement; it is important that all the names of artists written list on the stigma which has survived to the present day on the north wall.

In the 18th century the temple was rebuilt, and it was built two chapels, one of which was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas, and the second - in the name of Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. Along the perimeter of the temple was built a stone wall running along the churchyard. In 1811 three gates were built.

In the early years of the 20th century Church of St. John the Evangelist was rebuilt again a few: two former chapel were demolished and in their place have made a new refectory room with a few new chapels. During the main construction works supervisor was engineer IV Bryuhanov. Completion took place in 1903.

For a long period of time, until 1949, in the church is constantly committed worship. In mid-1949, the church of St. John the Evangelist was closed. Soon, the building of the temple have been conducted restoration and construction work carried out specialized research and restoration of the Kostroma major production workshop; ending all work occurred at the end of 1960.

Some time later, in the church there was an exhibition related to Kostroma architectural and historical museum. During the 1970s, under the guidance of architect KG Torop has carried out the restoration of the gates and fences. Later, when the Museum of Kostroma in the Ipatiev Monastery located on the greater part of its territory, the church and the Evangelist John the Theologian conducted its work in the community Ipatiev Monastery.

To date, since 2005, the church is wholly owned by Galich and Kostroma diocese. The church, still, two chapels: Fedorov and Nikolsky. The temple is in good condition, but will soon be small repair work.