Peter and Paul Cathedral (Peterhof): the history of appearance, architecture and photo

The Cathedral of Peter and Paul (Peterhof), a photo of which is presented in this article, appeared thanks to John Yanyshev, the head of the court clergy. In 1892, he petitioned for the construction of a church in Peterhof, as there were few churches, and they could not accommodate all those who wanted to attend the parishioners. At first this petition fell to the Minister Vorontsov-Dashkov, and through him - to the table of Alexander III. The emperor satisfies the petition and personally determines the construction site - the coast of Tsaritsynsky pond. This is how the history of the magnificent Orthodox church begins, which today fairly brightly reflects the native Russian style.

Peter and Paul Cathedral (Peterhof): the history of construction

The emperor also chose the architects himself. When Nikolay Sultanov, along with other candidates (Benoit, de Rochefort and Semenov), presented his drawing, Alexander III chose his project, because according to the plan the church was supposed to accommodate up to 800 parishioners. In addition, the talented (and today there is no doubt, just look at the building) Sultanov clearly thought out the external appearance and interior decoration. It implied the construction of the temple is not just beautiful, but also convenient for priests and visitors. There are separate rooms for funeral services, baptisms and confessions, walk-in closets, and even indoor galleries, which are used on rainy days.

The cathedral of Peter and Paul (Peterhof) began to build in 1894. First dug the foundation pit, then created a temporary building for housing workers and proceeded to erection. The first stone was laid by the initiator - Janishev, it was in 1895. The architect Kosyakov supervised all construction projects. The Imperial Court was involved in sponsoring. For four years, managed to build the building, then engaged in plastering, heating and ventilation works, lasting at least three years. Then they began to paint the temple and equip the iconostasis. It lasted 2 years. At the same time, they broke the garden around the cathedral and built a church and parish school, a power station and a boiler room.

The Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Peterhof) was consecrated on June 12 (25 according to the new style) of 1905. Conducted a solemn event, John Yanishev. This whole holiday was attended by the whole imperial family.

Architectural appearance

The temple has the shape of a pyramid. Crowned by its five heads with gilded domes and hipped towers. The largest of them is at an altitude of 70 m. This cathedral is the best example of Russian architecture of the late 16th - early 17th centuries. It was erected from light yellow and dark red bricks using irrigated tiles, and sandstone columns, also with tiles, were used as decorations. On the facades installed icons of patrons of the imperial dynasty.

Surrounds the amazing beauty Cathedral of Peter and Paul (Peterhof) covered gallery. There are many different rooms here, including rooms for lighting Easter products. Each entrance has a dressing room in front of it. On the side facades - stairs leading to the choir. The main entrance is decorated with a portal made of arched stone, surrounded by 2 porches, a chapel and a tent belfry.

Interior and decoration

Inside the temple the masters Safonov and Kolupaev decorated. They painted the interior, and the icons were made by Palekh icon painters. The main iconostasis was executed in the likeness of what is in the Greek church of St. George in Venice. The central part of the cathedral is occupied by an arch with a wide draft and a silver crucifix. Other iconostases, for example in the chapel, are made of snow-white Carrara marble.

The cathedral of Peter and Paul (Peterhof) suffered very badly twice: first - from the revolution, and then - during the Great Patriotic War. However, all necessary measures were taken to restore the architectural monument to the millennium of the Baptism of Rus. The consecration in the late 1990s was performed by the Patriarch of Moscow. And to this day, restoration work is periodically carried out in order to preserve the external and internal appearance of the finest examples of the Neo-Russian style.

Address

There is a cathedral in Novy Peterhof, on the bank of the Tsaritsynsky Pond (now named after Olgina), along St. Petersburg Avenue, 32 A. In the immediate vicinity is the ensemble "Peterhof", consisting of palaces and parks.

And in the most gloomy days this majestic architectural creation as a ray of light decorates and illuminates the city with its distinctive bright beauty. Being here, it is absolutely necessary to visit St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Peterhof to appreciate the true Neo-Russian style.