Vladimir Putin's parents, who both lived in villages near Turginovo, were baptised in this church in 1911, according to records found in the regional archives. Vladimir Putin's grandmother, Yelizaveta Shelomova, is buried in the village's old cemetery.

After the service, the prime minister spoke with the church's senior priest, who told him about the restoration that was carried out at the church three years ago. The work was completed, in part, with the help of private donations from Vladimir Putin.

The prime minister presented to the senior priest an icon of the Mother of God made by an unknown master in the early 19th century. He also spoke with the parishioners and congratulated them on the holiday.

Vladimir Putin wore a sweater knit for him by a woman from Verkhnyaya Vereya to thank him for the quick reconstruction of houses destroyed by wildfires last summer.