As the capital of the Orthodox Tsarist Russia, St Petersburg is chock full of magnificent cathedrals, quiet churches and once-powerful monasteries. Besides Christianity most of the great religions are represented and while the buildings may differ in architectural size, magnificence or religion served, they all make interesting places to visit and explore.
St Isaac’s and Kazan Cathedrals
St Isaac’s and Kazan Cathedrals vie for the role of most recognizable religious structure in St Petersburg. Both St Isaac’s gold dome and Kazan’s sweeping facade are synonymous with the city and a vivid reminder that nearly eighty years of communism could not banish the influence of religion. St Isaac’s is the more ornate, both inside and outside, due to extensive refurbishment over the past decade. The interior is a smorgasbord of murals, mosaics and delicate gold trimmings that makes it worth paying the entrance fee. The climb to the roof can be exhausting but is rewarding, more so on a clear day, for the stunning views across the city. Kazan Cathedral was designed by an emancipated serf and modeled on St Peter’s in Rome. Its sits directly on Nevsky Prospekt and served, somewhat perversely, as a museum of atheism during the Soviet period. Be aware that religious services take place in these cathedrals and they are therefore closed to casual visitors at certain times.
The Church of the Saviour
The Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood is the third of St Petersburg’s famous religious buildings. Closely modeled on St Basil’s in Red Square the church was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was murdered, hence the grisly name. The Church on Spilt Blood is smaller than Kazan or St Isaac’s cathedrals but it is also more picturesque. Although it was restored after its abuse at the hands of the Soviets, the church doesn’t hold services and operates exclusively as a museum. There is also an interesting souvenir market behind the church where visitors can peruse a selection of religious Icons and Soviet memorabilia. Just remember to bargain as the stall holders ramp up their prices for foreigners.
The St Petersburg Datsan
The St Petersburg Datsan is the most northerly Buddhist temple in the world. Located to the north of the city near Staraya Derevnya metro station the Datsan sits inauspiciously in the middle of a four lane highway with cars whizzing by on both sides. The local Buddhist population is mostly made up of Buryats from Siberia, although it had barely been finished in 1913 before the revolution brought persecution and, for many Buddhists, the Gulag. Despite the highway the building is peaceful and interesting. It’s open to visitors daily although services take place at ten and three.
A short distance from the Peter and Paul Fortress is the largest Mosque in northern Europe. The Mosque can hold five thousand worshipers at a time although it rarely does, most of the St Petersburg Muslims are a secular bunch it would appear. Like the other religious buildings the Mosque suffered during the Soviet period, although it was granted a reprieve when the visiting President of Indonesia asked that the building be restored in 1956. The Mosque can only be viewed from outside as the interior is only open to worshipers. Services run five times a day.
Finally, the St Petersburg Synagogue is centrally located near Sennaya Ploshad. It forms the heart of a Jewish complex that also contains a restaurant and Jewish bookshop that also sells gifts. The building is quite impressive, topped with its azure dome almost fifty meters high. The complex is open daily except Saturday with services being held at nine in the morning and evening.
Photo of the Church of the Spilled Blood, St Petersburg, Russia originally posted by inhisgrace
Topic: General Travel |
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Will Joce is a recent graduate from the London School of Economics who has a morbid fear of working in an office. As well as travelling and writing he has worked in the UK Parliament and as a press monitor. Refusing to follow advice and get a real job he will soon be beginning a Masters degree at St Petersburg State University
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