Nikolsky Naval Cathedral in St. Petersburg is located on the bank of the Kryukov Canal. It is a magnificent monument of the architectural style of the Baroque. Nicholas-Epiphany Church consists of two churches - the lower and upper. The lower church is consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker - the patron of all travelers, including by sea. The upper church is consecrated in the name of the Epiphany. Therefore, the full name of the church is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Epiphany. Its construction was completed in 1762.
By order of Catherine II, the temple was donated 10 images in honor of the victories of the Russian fleet in battles with the Swedes and Turks. Since then, many famous people have made gifts to the church: the composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the poet Anna Akhmatova and others.
It became a tradition to celebrate any event in the Russian Navy with worship in the church.
Later, near the church, a garden is broken, the project of which was also performed by SI Chevakinsky. And later it was combined with a square built by merchant Tupikov. So next to the temple appeared a public square in which in 1908 a monument was erected to officers and sailors who died under Tsushima May 15, 1905 on the battleship "Emperor Alexander III."
The two-storeyed Nikolo-Bogoyavlensky temple represents an equal cross in the plan. As decorations stucco garlands of flowers and leaves are used, decorative sculptures, slender white columns. At the temple there are five chapters with gilded domes. At the projecting corners of the building, the architect has groups of three columns. The facade is painted in bright blue. The festivity of the temple is created by the gilded domes. And the balconies with patterned wrought iron bars complement the facades.
A four-tier bell tower is located to the side of the temple. The three lower tiers of the bell tower are decorated with columns. The upper stage is crowned by a dome with a thin spire. Since the bell tower tapers to the top, and the walls of the two lower tiers are concave, the impression of its airiness is created. And the proximity to the water makes this place romantic. The belfry is one of the most recognizable sights of St. Petersburg, often portrayed by St. Petersburg artists
In the lower church there is the Main shrine of St. Nicholas the Epiphany Cathedral - the Greek icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the 17th century with a part of his relics.
In the upper church you can see the carved iconostasis (the work of the master I. Kanaev). It is decorated with icons made in the Byzantine tradition (the work of the painters Kolokolnikov). The column is decorated with carvings in the form of garlands of flowers and leaves (the work of the master-carver Ignaty Kanaev)
Nikolo-Bogoyavlensky temple is a symbol of the blessing of St. Petersburg as a city of sea glory
Useful information
Operating church, free entrance ; website
Address: St. Petersburg, pl. Nikolskaya, 1; tel: +7 (812) 714-70-85, 714-69-26, 714-08-62.
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| Maritime Nikolsky Cathedral in winter |
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| Maritime Nikolsky Cathedral |
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| Dome, Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas |
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| Monument to Admiral Makarov, Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas |
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| Under the dome, The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas |