In Russia began the revival of religion and faith. Petersburgers became interested in temples, where they built, what values were stored there.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

The oldest cathedral of St.Petersburg is Peter and Paul Cathedral. Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul was laid a month after the founding of the city, 29 June 1703, and 1 April 1704 the cathedral was completed and consecrated the name of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Originally it was a wooden church. With 1712 in its place has begun construction of the stone Peter and Paul Cathedral, designed by architect D.Trezzini. The construction lasted 21 years, and only in 1733 the cathedral was consecrated in the reign of Empress Anna Ioanovna.   Multi-storey bell tower surmounted by a spire, which culminates in the form of a flying angel with a cross. The height of the Cathedral is 122,5 meters long and 3,2 meters angel figure, and the scope of its wings - 3,8 meters.

  The magnificent iconostasis was made by a group of Moscow cutters in 1727, wall panels with paintings - painters A.Matveev, I.Zakharov, A.Nikitin, etc.

  Peter and Paul Cathedral is the royal tomb, there lie the remains of almost all Russian emperors and empresses. Above the tombs of kings and their families are installed marble tombstones.

Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Monastery

Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter I in July 1710 on the left bank of the Neva River. Peter I decided to move the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky in St.Petersburg and he outlined a place for the construction of the monastery.   At 1712 laid the first wooden Church of the Annunciation. The stone church of St. Lazarus was built in 1717.

  In 1797 at the command of Emperor Paul I, Alexander Nevsky Monastery was officially named "The Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra". At the beginning of XX century on the territory of the monastery housed 16 churches. For two centuries in the temples laurels buried royal personages and most prominent public and church leaders.

  In 1931-1936 were closed all the temples and churches of the Lavra. After numerous requests the faithful city Holy Trinity Cathedral was returned to the Orthodox Church in 1955. Only in 1985 resumption of services at St. Nicholas Church.

  Holy Trinity Cathedral was built in 1776-1790 designed by architect I.Starova. Inside the cathedral buried relics of St. Apostle Andrew the First and relics of St. Alexander Nevsky. After returning to the church of the Orthodox Church in its restoration work carried out, the government returned part of the icons.

  On the territory of the monastery are Annunciation Church, Lazarus Church, St.Nicholas Church, Church of Our Lady "Joy of All Who Sorrow".

Kazan Cathedral

Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God

  Miraculous Icon of Kazan Mother of God from the very foundation of the Romanov dynasty was regarded as the icon, guarding the royal house. This icon defended Russian soldiers in the battle 1579. Up to 1710 icon located in Moscow, it carried to St. Petersburg by Queen Praskovia. By decree of Peter I the icon was kept in a specially built Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.

  In 1801-1811 Kazan Cathedral was built by architect A.Voronikhin. The whole church utensils and icons from the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin were transferred to new cathedral.

  The Cathedral's side from Nevsky Prospect is adjacent colonnade of 96 columns, set in four rows. Semicircular colonnade covered area and ends with 2 sides monumental portals. From the north and west sides lined with colonnades and facades. All around the cathedral 136 columns, their height is 13 meters thick at the bottom of about 4 meters above - 3 meters. The dome is made on the basis of metal parts. The diameter of the dome is 17 meters.

  The exterior design of the cathedral used sculpture. On the southern, western and northern sides of portals placed 12 bas-reliefs depicting events from the life of the Holy Virgin.

  From the side of Nevsky Prospekt front of the cathedral in 1837 after a solemn prayer service were discovered monuments to heroes of Patriotic War of 1812 - Field Marshals M.Kutuzov and M.Barklayu de Tolly.

Isaac's Cathedral

Cathedral of St.Isaac of Dalmatia

  Existing building of St.Isaac's Cathedral - is the fourth of the buildings that were built near the Admiralty and dedicated to the memory of Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, in commemoration of the birthplace of Peter I. At 1819 was laying the building of the Cathedral, at the base of which was laid gilded bronze plaque. The building was built by architect A.Montferrand. The base of the cathedral is a solid mass of granite, which is built on top of the building of the cathedral, the walls are built of brick and granite and lined inside and outside Italian and Finnish marble.

  The Cathedral is decorated with 112 monolithic columns, each weighing 64 tons. In the seven doors of the cathedral, cast bronze, placed 51 bas-relief, 73 statues and 84 bust. Paul laid out a multi-colored marble, framed frieze of porphyry. Above the pink marble pilasters rising entablature and attic, encapsulating the 40 images and pictures painted in oils on plaster. Iconostasis tiled with white marble and decorated with 10 and 2 malachite lapis lazuli columns. Icons mosaic and painting. In 1931 the cathedral was turned into a museum.

  In recent years, major church feasts in the cathedral began performing services.

Cathedral of the Resurrection
on the Catherine Canal

Savior on Blood

Church of the Resurrection of Christ is built on the site where on 1 March 1881 a member of the People's Will was mortally wounded Emperor Alexander II. On this site originally was erected a chapel designed by architect Benois. Then in place of the chapel was erected a temple by architect A. Parland. The walls are covered with marble and special glazed brick, granite plinth. The internal decoration of the church to use the Italian multi-colored marbles, colored ornamental stones from different regions of Russia: jasper, porphyry, colored marbles. Magnificent mosaic icons of the temple, made from sketches A.Ryabushkin, M.Nesterova, V.Vasnetsov, N.Kharlamov.

  Pediments four porches decorated with mosaic panels created by the Gospel stories and sketches made by V.Vasnetsov. Currently being restored the restoration of the temple.

Cathedral of St. Vladimir

  St.Vladimir's Cathedral is located off the coast of the Little Neva. This place was originally built a wooden church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in 1708. Then, in subsequent years, the church was reorganized, changed its name.

At 1766 Empress Catherine II approved the draft of the cathedral, designed by architect Rinaldi. At 1789 temple was built and consecrated in memory of St. Vladimir in honor of the 800th anniversary of Christianity in Russia.

  The temple is decorated with copies of paintings by famous masters: "Lamentation of Christ" Veronese, "Transfiguration" by Raphael, "Agony in the Garden" Bruni. The altar of the Assumption chapel are three images: the Holy Prince Vladimir, the miraculous image of Nicholas and St. Seraphim of Sarov, icons, and the Iberian Tikhvin. Church acted during the war and postwar years. In the cathedral of the icon transferred from closed churches. The cathedral is stored Icon of Kazan Mother of God, the image of the Assumption of the Mother of God - a copy of the icon - holy monastery. In 1989 was celebrated 200 years of the Cathedral.

Trinity Cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Church of the Life Guards regiment Izmailovsky

  Originally wooden church was built for the Guard Izmailovo Regiment in 1754. In 1835 stone temple was built on the project V.Stasov. A magnificent frieze decorates the building, columns, cast-iron balustrades on tripods gives the building its elegance and splendor.

In the walls of the cathedral mounted commemorative marble plaque with the names of officers Izmailovo Regiment, killed in battle. Spacious and bright cathedral can accommodate up to 3 thousand people. Inside the dome were painted with golden stars on a blue background.

  The Trinity Cathedral was a lot of icons of famous Russian artists. Opposite the main facade was installed, a convoy of iron in honor of the victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. The column height of 18 meters was cast out of 140 barrels of captured guns. The column is crowned by a winged figure of Victory. After the revolution, the monument was dismantled and shipped to the smelter. Cathedral gradually fell into neglect. However, the building was restored to the Church in 1990.

Transfiguration Cathedral

Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the whole guard

  At 1754 on the eve of the Transfiguration, the church was consecrated in the presence of the Empress. In the creation of interior decoration participated architect Rastrelli. In 1825 the church burned to the ground and at the same spot in 1829 was restored under the supervision of architect Stasov.

  Around Cathedral Square was laid out, surrounded by a fence consisting of a barrel of guns, set up barrels. Inside the cathedral choir at the right is a list of board officers Transfiguration Regiment, who died in 1702-1917.

 The iconostasis of the central altar decorated with gilded carvings on white background. Vault of the dome is painted the color of the cloudy sky, on each side - eight angels in the center - a big star with radiating. The walls of the temple is decorated with many icons, sent here from closed churches.

  Transfiguration Cathedral never closed, he kept the character imparted with architect Stasov. At one of the towers of the cathedral bells were brought from England in 1854 and acting today.

Church of the Icon of the Virgin of Vladimir

  The church was built in 1761-1783 probably by the architect Trezzini. The domes of the church are great for the proportions and the beauty of silhouettes. The interior is well preserved. Sails of the middle dome decorated with sculptural figures of the Evangelists. At 1783 project Quarenghi next to the church was built bunk belfry, bell tower was completed later, up to 4 tiers.

  The church was decorated with images of the school of Rubens. In 1990 church was returned to believers.

Holy Cross Church

  The church is located on Ligovsky prospect near Obvodniy canal.

At 1719 on this place was built a wooden church in the name of John the Baptist, which burned down in 1730. In 1848 in its place was erected a temple to the onion domes of the architect Dimmetrom, student Stasova. The building was built in Baroque style of XVIII century. Chetyrehyarusnaya tower with two chapels is associated with a bell tower with semicircular colonnades, designed by architect Postnikov. The building is the bell tower topped by a spire and decorated with columns and statues.   Church returned to believers, it performed the service while being reconstructed interior of the temple.

  Behind Holy Cross Church is the church in the name of the Tikhvin Icon of Theotokos. The building was erected in 1764-1768 the means of St.Petersburg merchant Ilyina. In 1842-1844 it was rebuilt by the architect Morgan.

Tikhvin Church was used for church services in the winter when they could not be conducted in an unheated Holy Cross Church.

 Currently, the church held worship.

Church of Miraculous Image

  The church was built in 1816-1823 designed by the architect Stasov in the building Stables Offices.

The Church is thus described by a contemporary Stasov: "... Inside the temple is sanctified by 17 large windows, the altar - one in which the inserted yellow glass, pours out a bright light like sunshine... Gaze astonished at the richness and beauty of the iconostasis." The church was decorated with bas-reliefs. In the temple kept many relics brought from Constantinople. Of particular interest to visitors chandelier of 108 candles, made of copper coated with silver, decorated with pure silver. It was removed and transferred to the Admiralty in 1929.

  At the present time the church was returned to believers. The beautiful chandelier finally returned to the temple. Specialists conduct final preparations for the pendant chandelier to the dome. His weight is 2 tons, the height of 4 meters, diameter of 2,5 meters. To restore the lost iconostasis requires big money, but the church is gradually restored to its original form.

  This temple is famous for the fact that on 1 February 1837 it's funeral of A.Pushkin. At night, Feb. 3 the coffin with his body was taken to Svyatogorsky monastery, where Pushkin and was buried.

  In recent years, many surviving temples handed over to the St. Petersburg diocese. By support of parishioners they make repairs and restoration, the temples renewed worship, organized Sunday schools, charitable activities. For more photos of cathedrals and their interior decoration you can be found in our photo gallery.