In 1902, the question of the design of the church building arose. That year a building committee was organized, the chairman of which was the rector of the church priest V.Popov. Many issues had to solve the committee — to choose an experienced architect — the author of the project, to find a reliable contractor who can competently lead the construction, to purchase building materials, to find a source of funding.
The choice of architect fell on a well-known for the construction of churches, experienced architect Kh.K.Vasiliev — on his projects built a number of churches in Alupka, Perekop, Gurzuf, Yanchokrak. Conscientious and experienced civil engineer, well-proven in the provincial center, YA Rykov took on the contracting work on the construction of the church of St. Elijah. YA Rykov built a noble theater in Simferopol, the building of the Officers’ Assembly, private homes and other large buildings. Under the contract with the Diocesan Office Rykov had to finish the church building by August 1903.
The construction of a new large building required a large area where the visual disclosure of the temple as an architectural volume would be complete. Bazaar Square in the central part of the city was largely suitable for the placement of the temple — this area in Saki was the most popular and lively. Long and firmly established this center of trade and business activity. By virtue of the established traditions, this trade gravitated to the crossroads and developed in the most crowded place. Here weekly gathered many visitors from the neighboring villages of Sakskaya volost — parishioners of the old St. Elijah Church (1861) because the nearest churches were located at a distance of 19 versts. Therefore, not by chance, but dictated by the expediency of the decision to place the church here, in the center of the crowded square.
The choice of the place for the construction of the new church was predetermined by the bell tower built in 1894, to which it was necessary to tie the «volume» of the church. The architect faced a rather difficult task — to design the church, thinking well about the proportions of the entire volume, to unite the bell tower and the church with an identical pattern.
The temple was conceived by the architect as an imposing building — 16 fathoms long (about 34 meters), 11 fathoms wide (about 24 meters). The structural scheme of the church is cross-domed. The central space is formed by a cylindrical vault, which rests on 4 pylons. The pylons of the sub-dome part have a rectangular shape. The architectural image of the church is based on the motifs of Russian-Byzantine architecture. Already the design materials gave an idea of the future church building as one of the best in the village. In the complex of other buildings the church building was the main one — its circular volume is 43 sazhens (about 92 meters).
October 2, 1903 on the central market square with a large crowd of people in a solemn atmosphere church of St. Elijah was consecrated.
November 27, 1929 on the basis of the Secret Resolution of the Presidium of the Presidium of Evpatoria district executive committee decided to «authorize the closure of the church with the use of the building for cultural purposes».
On January 1, 1930, the issue of closing the church was resolved and it was decided to convert the church into a club for the Himsoltrest.
In April 1930. The local village council and the administration of the club began to remove the domes, iconostasis and seizure of church utensils. The use of the church for a club had a detrimental effect on its condition, it underwent radical reconstruction, which entailed a significant loss of architectural, structural and decorative elements of the interior.
The church of St. Elijah was opened during the Great Patriotic War (1942) by the Germans at the request of the believing residents of Saki.
Full restoration of the church began only in 1990 by the labor and care of the newly appointed Archbishop Leontius rector Archpriest Valery (Ivanovich) Tsurkan.
At present, the Church of Elijah the Prophet has completely regained its original appearance.
The church in Saki is undoubtedly of architectural and artistic interest as an example of good architectural level, construction and decorative art.