5 Churches And Chapels In Saint Petersburg That You Must Visit

Russia is in fashion. Therefore, we invite you to a trip through the best chapels in Saint Petersburg, temples that you must visit if you are in this beautiful city. Without a doubt, this is one of the most special cities in a country that combines two continents, Asia and Europe.

Churches, cathedrals and chapels of Saint Petersburg that you should know

Let’s see the most spectacular temples and chapels in Saint Petersburg, a small part of the spectacular heritage of this city. Some are churches that may sound familiar to you, others you may have never heard of, but they are all wonderful.

1. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

It is also called the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. It is one of the most famous Saint Petersburg chapels in the city. The pictorial composition of its interior and the multicolored decoration of its domes on the outside stand out. All this makes it a highlight of the architecture of the city center.

It is situated near Nevsky Avenue, on the bank of one of the canals, the Griboyedova, which is named after the famous Russian playwright, poet, musician, and diplomat Aleksandr Griboyedov. The church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II of Russia was assassinated.

In World War II, a bomb fell on top of the highest dome, but it never exploded. It remained there for years, until some workers who were repairing the dome found it. Once removed, the restoration of the church began, which was later inaugurated as a state museum.

2. St. Isaac’s Cathedral

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is arguably the most sumptuous and grandiose of the city’s churches. When decorating, more than 40 different minerals were used.

To give an idea of ​​the figures, the dome is 21.8 meters in diameter and 100 kilos of gold were used to cover it. In addition, four hundred works of art including sculptures, mosaics and paintings adorn this temple.

Since 1931 the cathedral is a museum. As a curiosity, during World War II, it was painted gray to prevent it from attracting enemy aircraft.

3. Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

It is located in the Fortress of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the original citadel of Saint Petersburg. It was designed by the Swiss architect Domenico Trezzini and was erected in 1703. Its spectacular spire stands out, which reaches 123 meters in height and is crowned by the figure of an angel.

4. Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan

This cathedral is the most important on an official level. In addition, it is the seat of the Orthodox Bishop of Saint Petersburg. It is consecrated to the Virgin of Kazan, who is the most venerated icon in Russia.

At the time it was perceived as a monument to Russia’s military victories in the war waged against Napoleon. Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov is buried in the same cathedral. We are talking about one of the peaks in Russian neoclassical architecture.

After the 1917 Revolution it was closed and in 1932 it reopened as a Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. In 1996 the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

5. Kronstadt Naval Cathedral

We want to end by talking about her. It is located in the port city that is on the island of Kotlin, about 30 kilometers west of the city, but depending on it administratively.

This is the newest Orthodox cathedral.  It was built between 1903 and 1913 as the main temple in the Baltic Fleet and dedicated to all the fallen sailors. Made in the Neo-Byzantine style, it is of enormous proportions, with a dome that reaches 27 meters in diameter.

After the 1917 Revolution the church was closed to worship, becoming a cinema, a club for army officers and even the Museum of the Navy in 1980.

As you can see, Saint Petersburg is full of churches and cathedrals that are worth visiting. A charming city where art and religion are very present.