In this work, based on the analysis and classification of arranging modern Austrian churches within the urban structure, an analogy with Russian churches was drawn, the development of the modern architecture of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 21st century was forecasted, the location of contemporary sacral architecture in the current urban area of Irkutsk was considered, and a trend to reestablish traditional techniques was revealed. Over 100 modern churches of Austrian cities, including Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and their suburbs, were examined and photofiled; the scientific publications of Austrian architects and art historians in this field were studied. The reforms in the Catholic Church in the 20th century that influenced the siting, style and form of religious architecture were addressed, and the dynamic transformation of sacred architecture was analysed. Contemporary and reconstructed historical sacral buildings of Irkutsk were examined and analysed. The tendencies in their development were summarised in the light of newly erected buildings and conceptual student and professional architectural designs of churches. Due to the political turmoil of 1917 in Russia, the development of the Russian Orthodox Church has been halted for 70 years. Thus, at the end of the 20th century, the sacral architecture revived in the same state it was destroyed. However, as a symbol of culture and architectural identity, public space, touristic and urban attraction, it has been slowly renovated over the past 30 years; new architectural solutions and locations in the urban space are being modernised. The studies show that any architectural style, even the conservative religious architecture, responds to the social phenomena and its emerging needs, resulting in a gradual change of its status in the urban development, as well as spatial organisation, composition, form and architectural style, through its implementers, namely architects and customers.