Photos by Boris Kuznetsov.

Scanned and designed by Ivan Kanivets.

Before the October Revolution of 1917, there were over 100 orthodox cathedrals and churches in St. Petersburg. After the Revolution, the number of those became few and few for various reasons: some were blown up and destroyed, other used as cargo houses of enterprises.

Some churches, luckier ones, were turned into museums. For example, the Kazan Cathedral used to be an Atheism and Religion Museum, the St. Isaac Cathedral - one of City museums. Thanks to that, their interior decorations were preserved in good shape.

There were only few active churches in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) by the end of 80s. After the beginning of Perestroika, the process of churches revival had started: they were returned to Petersburg Diocese and renovations and reconstructions begun. Right now there are about 40 active churches, and more appear every year...

In this collection of photos, various cathedrals - active, reconstructed and awaiting for renovations, are presented. It is a great pleasure to take pictures of churches: your soul gets so much lighter. I believe that churches are the most beautiful buildings of St. Petersburg. Even under the process of reconstruction, they are wonderful. I would be happy if I'’ve managed to show at least a part of their beauty and grandeur in my pictures. Boris Kuznetsov, 52, photographer-amateur, native of St.Petersburg, driver.

Image Gallery

Some descriptions have been taken from the book
Orthodox St.Petersburg/ Ed. by Maria Lyzhenkova.- St. Petersburg: P-2 Publishers, 1996.

	The Cathedral of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul
	Interior of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg
	The Cathedral of St. Isaac of Dalmatia
	The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of the Trinity - St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra
	The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of the Izmailovsky Life-Guards Regiment
	The Cathedral of Andrei Pervozvany
	The Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
	The Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostels
	The Naval St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Epiphany
	St. John's Convent
	The Smolny Cathedral of the Resurrection
	The Transfiguration Cathedral of All the Guards
	The Cathedral of the Resurrection (The Saviour-on-the-Blood)
	The Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Zelenogorsk)
	The Cathedral of St. Sampson the Hospitable
	The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
	The Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
	The Church of the Holy Trinity ('Easter Cake and Paskha')
	The Church of St.George Triumphant
	The Church of the Nativity of St.Ioan Predtecha
	The Church of the Nativity of St.John the Baptist
	The Church of St.Isidor Yurievsky and Nikolai Chudotvorets
	The Church of Sts. Simeon and Ann Prophet
	The Church of the Resurrection
	The Tverskaya Church (The Church of the Mother of God)
	The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin
	The Konjushennaya Church
	The Church of St. Martyr and Healer Pantaleon
	The Church of St. Prophet Ilia

This is all for today... May be continued...

---

Go to home page Go to previous page

---

Last modification April, 17, 1998.

This pages was designed by Ivan V. Kanivets (Home page here)

© 1997, 1998 Boris Kuznetsov.
Open Library Systems Center of St.Petersburg State Technical University.
All rights reserved.