The Kazan Virgin is the Russian god of protection. The Kazan Madonna is the highest icon of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is regarded as the protector of the Russian people for centuries. The Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Irkutsk was founded in 1885. It is the only Orthodox church in Irkutsk and the most beautiful church in Irkutsk and even in the whole of Siberia, ranking third in the Russian church. The church is decorated in a Byzantine style in Russia and was completed by many famous icon painters, silversmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors.