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

The first church, founded in 1928, housed in a wooden building on the street Drum. It was named after the famous saint, as well as the memory of the shot along with the family of Emperor Nicholas II. The first rector was the father of Victor (Pushkin), a former regimental priest.

In 1937, the temple is likely due to arson, burned down completely. His recovery began just two years later - for the construction of a stone building chosen a new location on Rue Saint-Genevieve. Temple created the project emigrant Sergey Bazdereva. Construction of the church was carried out by the rector and parishioners gathered on donations, work was carried out in the evenings and on weekends, so the construction proceeded very slowly. Even during the Second World War, in spite of the bombing and the lack of funds, the work continues. And the interior of the temple continued even after the war. Consecration of the church took place in May 1946.

In the 1970s, in the church after the collapse of the ceiling was repaired. Toward the end of the last century, around the church up neighborhoods, and when next to him was opened metro station, the number of worshipers increased. One of the icons of the church dedicated to St. Irenaeus - Bishop of Lyons were martyred for their faith in the 202 year.

Church of St. Nicholas in Lyon rich decoration is different and original architecture, but it is called the monument of the first wave of emigration and the symbol of the love of the Orthodox faith.

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