Cathedrals and temples of St. Petersburg: list, features and interesting facts

The northern capital of Russia was originally conceived by Peter I as the center of Russian Orthodoxy. By the grand design of the tsar, it had to outshine the European administrative centers with its grandeur, grace and power. Each important event in the life of the city and state throughout the history of St. Petersburg was marked by the erection of a new church. Many cathedrals and temples of St. Petersburg are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Thousands of people flock to St. Petersburg every year. Some - to be attached to the great shrines, others - to enjoy the wondrous beauty.

Greatness and attractiveness of the city is bestowed on the temples of St. Petersburg. The list of all the churches would take several pages. In addition, in the vicinity of the city there are also many important and significant religious buildings. It is difficult to describe all the Orthodox cathedrals, temples of St. Petersburg. We mention only a few, these are those that are known everywhere and attract pilgrims from all over the world.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

In the fortress built by Peter I, the first temple was consecrated in the place of the future capital of the state in the fifth week. This happened in 1703. This was the first pearl in the "necklace", replenished the cathedrals and temples of St. Petersburg. The spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress was the highest point of St. Petersburg. Since Peter, it was here that the Russian emperors were buried. The remains of the last representatives of the royal dynasty were also brought here after the discovery of a burial site near Yekaterinburg. Currently, there is a museum inside the cathedral.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

The construction of this temple was also conceived by Peter, who was born on the day of Isaac of Dalmatia. In 1707 a wooden church was built. Several times the cathedral was rebuilt, the current version - the fourth. It was erected under Alexander I. The architect was chosen by Auguste Montferrand. Construction took a long time - 40 years. According to legend, the architect was predicted that after the erection of the church he would die. So he did not hurry. Interesting fact: Montferrand really rested a month after the completion of the construction.

Various types of marble and granite, as well as Ural gems, 400 kg of gold, 500 kg of lapis lazuli, 16 tons of malachite and one thousand tons of bronze were used for decoration and construction. Finishing materials were brought from all over the country. The statues, high reliefs, walls were decorated with a unique mosaic. The temple turned out to be a truly grandiose construction, accommodating up to 14 thousand people.

To this day in the cathedral is the revered Orthodox shrine - the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God. Currently, the cathedral has a museum with observation platforms, which offer a magnificent view of the city. But on public holidays, services are being held, for which thousands of believers gather.

Church of the Savior on the Blood

This unforgettable temple is one of the business cards of the city. Decorated with intricate carvings and bizarre domes, it draws the gaze of passers-by with its grace and brightness of colors. It is interesting that the building is more like a painted tower, rather than an Orthodox church. All the more surprising that he was erected on the site of the attempt on the emperor Alexander II. From the wounds received the emperor died, and the blood mentioned in the name of the temple is the blood of the king. Now the service is not held in the temple. This is museum.

Kazan Cathedral

The list in which temples, cathedrals of St.-Petersburg are brought is widened. Description of the Kazan Cathedral is found in every tourist guide. Every traveler tries to get here. The temple was laid as a court imperial on September 8, 1801. A small church, which stood on Nevsky Prospekt and served as a court, was simply lost amid the pompous Nevsky Prospekt. Paul I announced a competition among architects. A lot of projects were presented from eminent and unknown masters of architecture from all over the world. According to the Emperor's plan, the new cathedral was to be like St. Paul's Cathedral in Rome. No project satisfied an ambitious emperor. At first, reluctantly, he accepted the project of the then famous architect Charles Cameron. But six months later a new project was approved for the unknown Russian architect Voronikhin. Voronikhin was a former serf peasant Count Stroganov, but the architectural talent of the master allowed him to get free and even earn the title of academician of the Academy of Arts.

Construction and finishing were carried out for 10 years. The temple turned out to be majestic and at the same time airy, open. A distinctive feature of the temple is the colonnade of 96 columns, decorating the entrance to the church. Each of them weighs 30 tons. And inside the temple there are 56 more columns. The consecration took place in 1811.

An interesting fact: in the construction were used finishing materials, which were mined in Russia, and the builders were only local masters. Voronikhin himself spent most of his time on the main building of his life. The decoration of the temple used statues, which was unusual for the Orthodox Church. Despite the greatness of the building, the architect was unable to translate the whole idea into reality. Thus, two pedestals remained unoccupied at the entrance. According to the project there should be sculptural images of the apostles. During Voronikhin's lifetime, castings from gypsum were cast. But the architect died two years after the completion of the construction, and the sculptures collapsed. Since then, there is a legend among the people that the pedestals will be occupied when an honest and just ruler appears in Russia. While the place is empty ...

The main sacred object of the church is the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. It is to her that the lines of believers from all over the world are drawn. This legend is associated with this icon, that it was found after the fire in Kazan. Matrona Onuchina, the Mother of God, appeared in her dream, indicating the place where the icon rests. The miraculous image more than once helped the Russian troops in the battles. This icon is the patroness of the Russian land. The generals have for centuries sought help from the holy image. Kutuzov before the battle with Napoleon, too, prayed in the new cathedral, and the Virgin gave victory to the Russian army. According to legend, while in St. Petersburg there is the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the enemy will not enter the city. Over the centuries enemy regiments came close to St. Petersburg, but they could not take it.

In the cathedral the ashes of Kutuzov, which was brought here after his death, lie in 1813. Also, the relics of the cathedral are almost one hundred standards and banners of the French army defeated by Kutuzov, and the keys to taken European cities.

Sampsonievsky Cathedral

While mentioning the cathedrals and temples of St. Petersburg, it is worth remembering Sampsonievsky Cathedral. This is the first church of military glory, built in St. Petersburg in honor of the victory at Poltava. It has non-religious paintings that perpetuated Peter and his victory.

Also, the cathedral is famous for its unique carved iconostasis and a collection of rare icons that has been preserved since the 18th century. The name of the architect of the church, as well as the master who produced the iconostasis, is not preserved in history. According to one version, the author of the carved iconostasis can be Rastrelli himself. Each icon is framed in a frame from a special pattern, which is not repeated anywhere else. Still in the cathedral there was a chandelier, consisting of three tiers.

The temple works as a museum, but it periodically hosts services.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra

It was erected by the order of Peter on the site of the alleged famous battle with the Swedes. And today the temple is a monument to the feat of the Russian army.

Transfiguration Cathedral

This temple is one of the most magnificent buildings of St. Petersburg. In it, for worship, the famous icons are displayed: the image of the Virgin "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the icon of Panteleimon with parts of the relics of the saint.

Church of the Holy Righteous Job

The church was built in honor of the famous sufferer of the Old Testament. At her is one of the largest cemeteries in the city, where many prominent figures are buried. The Church of Job never ceased its work. Even in the harsh days of the blockade, believers came here to strengthen themselves in the spirit.

Ioannovsky Monastery

This holy place was founded by the righteous John of Kronstadt. The relics of the saint are buried in the shrine of the temple.

Chapel of St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg

Listing the churches, churches, cathedrals of St. Petersburg, we can not fail to mention a small chapel in the Smolensk cemetery, known to every believer in Russia and far beyond its borders. It is a chapel of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg. The stream of pilgrims to it does not dry out. People go to a saint with different problems, and she helps them with her prayers.

The cathedrals and temples of St. Petersburg are an ornament of the Northern capital and a symbol of its spirituality.