Sightseeing

ST.NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL One of the most famous architectural city landmarks and a symbol of St-Petersburg’s blessing as a city of naval glory, the Naval Cathedral, bearing the official name the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and the Epiphany, is located in a district, were mainly sailors and dockyard workers used to live in Petrine times and the Maritime Yard with a wooden church as its spiritual centre was situated. Dedicated to St. Nicholas, who is believed to be a Patron saint of all seamen, the Cathedral was constructed to the design of Savva Chevakinsky, approved in May 1752, and after each major victory of the Navy, a special Divine service was held herein the presence of the Czar and his relatives. Built between 1753-1762 in the shape of a Greek cross, the two-storied cathedral is adorned with five gilded domes (which re-gilding later on was paid for by parishioners) and small cupolas crowned with crosses and features luxurious exterior characteristic of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna: Corinthian columns, elaborate patterns of the balcony railings, splendid semicircular window apertures of the Lower and Upper Churches making the cathedral always full of air and light. However, while creating the interior of the cathedral, Chevakinsky used his compositional skills and innovative techniques as well thus making the inner décor less impressive by no stretch of imagination. The showpiece of the interior is the two-tiered iconostasis, executed by the master carver Ignaty Kanayev. Being a memorial place of for seamen and Naval officers killed in wars, the cathedral walls bear marble slabs with the names of the perished, and since 1989 this tradition is continued by the mounting of a tablet commemorating dead submariners. Consecrated on 20 July 1762 to the Epiphany, the cathedral boasts a graceful four-storied campanile standing about 500 meters distant and contrasting sharply with the heavy structure of the cathedral that was also designed by Savva Chevakinsky and built in 1753-1762.While the park surrounding the Cathedral, features a granite obelisk crowned with a figure of an eagle – that is a monument to the heroic crew of the Emperor Alexander III battleship killed in the Tsushima battle on May 14, 1905 that was created by architect Yakov Filote and sculptor Alexander Aubert. Situated in quite a picturesque place at the banks of the Kriukov Canal, which was linked with the Fontanka River in 1719, the cathedral managed to preserve its original beauty in the Soviet times, and after the thorough restoration in the post-war years, the cathedral was opened for worship.

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