Performed in the style of the Empire, the Kazan Cathedral, is one of the largest churches of St. Petersburg. In the years 1801-1811 the cathedral was built by the architect AN Voronikhin in order to store the list of honored miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Its value is a monument to Russian military glory he acquired after 1812.
Here was buried famous commander Kutuzov in 1813 and placed the keys of the capture of the city and other spoils of war.
In 1932, it converted into a museum the history of religion and atheism, since 1991, the current church several years co-exist with the exposition. Since 2000 – the Cathedral of the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Abbot – Archpriest Paul Krasnotsvetov
In 1799 Emperor Paul I was a competition to design a new cathedral to replace dilapidated Nativity of the Mother of the Church.. Among the participants of the contest were famous architects: P. Gonzaga, Charles Cameron, D. Trombaro, J. Thomas de Thomon. However, none of the draft has not been approved. A year later, the Count Alexander Stroganoff, which was located near the residence of the temple, the emperor suggested a new project created by talented young architect (and former serf Stroganoff) AN Voronikhin. This project was approved, and Count Stroganov became chairman of the board of trustees in the construction of the cathedral. Bookmark the new church took place in the presence of Emperor Alexander August 27 (8 September) 1801 I. On the construction of the Kazan Cathedral on a voluntary basis, as an assistant Voronikhin worked as an architect and engraver Nicholas F. Alferov. Construction was completed in 1811 and cost the treasury 4.7 million rubles. January 1, 1811 author of the Kazan Cathedral, the architect A. Voronikhin was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4-th degree. 15 (27) September 1811 Metropolitan Ambrose consecrated the cathedral. That same year, the old church was demolished.
Emperor Paul I wished that the construction on the temple of his command was like a majestic St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Reflecting this wish has become erected AN Voronikhin front of the northern facade of the grand colonnade and 96 columns. If the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square in Rome closes, the colonnade of the Kazan Cathedral opens to Nevsky Prospekt. This architectural solution allowed A. Voronikhin solve the problem, to get up in front of all the builders of churches on the Nevsky. Avenue stretches from west to east, just as organized and Orthodox churches – in the west – the entrance in the east – the altar. Because many [1] places of worship had to stand sideways to the city’s main thoroughfare. Colonnade allowed to make the northern, side of the cathedral, front. Dome cross cathedral, for the same reasons, is towards the edge of the avenue and to the front, the north side is not fully visible. From the south of the Cathedral I had to decorate the colonnade of the same, but the plan AN Voronikhin was not brought up to the end. Cathedral Bell Tower has no belfry is located in the west wing of the colonnade. After securing the ends of the monumental colonnade of porticos, Voronikhin designed driveways along the canal and the street in the direction of which was called the western facade of the cathedral. Facade of the cathedral are lined with gray stone pudostskogo. Previously, they were decorated with reliefs and statues, made Ivan Martos, IP Prokofiev, FG Gordeev, SS Pimenov, VI Demuth-Malinovsky. It was possible to realize not all of the plan. So far survived two pedestals on either side of the colonnade before 1824 they were plaster sculptures of angels, which had to be replaced with bronze. The northern gate of the cathedral were cast in bronze on the model of the famous “Doors of Paradise» XV century Florentine Baptistery. Inside the temple, located 56 Corinthian columns of pink Finnish granite with gilded capitals. From bas-reliefs in the interior only two survived: “Carrying the Cross” FF Shchedrin and “Detention” JD Rachette, others already removed in 1814. Fulfill the academics painting: VK Shebuev, AE Egorov, A. Ivanov, F. Briullov, SS Shchukin, OA Kiprensky and others [2]. Noteworthy was the iconostasis of the main chapel. Erected in the years 1834-1836 by the architect KA Ton instead of the original, Voronikhin, he was faced with a silver trophy, taken away from the French. 40 pounds of silver sent Don Ataman MI Platov. After 30 years of silver were faced with iconostasis and the north and south chapels. After removal of church valuables iconostasis was lost. [3] Currently, the money in the iconostasis is restored.