The idea of the fesival has been inspired by the story of Chaliapin's marriage with a young Italian ballerina Iola Tornagi in Gagino's church of All-Merciful Savior on July 27, 1898.
Launched on July 2002 to commemorate the remarkable wedding, the festival was at first an amateur concert of locals.
The All-Merciful Savior church is notable for Feodor Chaliapin's wedding, while Our Lady of Kazan church (colloquially called "Kazanskaya") annually serves as an offstage for the Chaliapin festival.
The film by Dmitriy Stepanov a film director from nearby Sergiyev Posad was dedicated to Chaliapin's wedding and a joyful party which followed the ceremony at the couple friend's villa in Putyatino few kilometers from Gagino.