Orthodox Churches
St. Petersburg's greatest religious buildings are, of course, its Russian Orthodox Cathedrals and Churches. Although stone churches were built in St. Petersburg for little more than 150 years, the range of architectural styles is breathtaking, from the elegant charms of early baroque to the staggering ornamentation of the Russian revival. This directory covers all the historical Orthodox churches in the city limits, with superb photographs and comprehensive visitor information for all these varied and fascinating buildings.
Completed in 1783, the beautiful and historic Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is one of the oldest and most unique churches in St. Petersburg. Its combination of baroque and classical architectural styles is truly fascinating.
This charming baroque church on the Fontanka River Embankment was built in the 1730s for Empress Anna Ionnovna, and is hard to miss thanks to its picturesque central location and the soaring spire of its belltower.
Built in the mid-18th century, this unusual and attractive church was once frequented by the scholars of the nearby Academy of Sciences. After being badly damaged in the Siege of Leningrad, it is now slowly being restored to its former glory.
Restored in time for St. Petersburg's 300th Anniversary, this fine late baroque church is set in one of the city's most picturesque areas, just across the river from Elagin Island, and has played host to some of Russia's most famous writers.
Built in the late 19th century as the parish church for St. Petersburg's bustling seaport, this charming red-brick church is still undergoing much-needed restoration, but has a number of interesting architectural features in the Russian revival style.
This charmingly simple bright pink neo-classical church a few steps from the Neva River is closely connected with some of the city's most famous New Martyrs - those executed for their faith after the Revolution.
Located in one of St. Petersburg's oldest cemeteries, this charming baroque church was lucky to be spared the ravages of the Soviet era, and has for centuries been considered one of the holiest places in the city, thanks to its connections to St. Ksenia of Petersburg.
Attached to St. Petersburg's prestigious Polytechnical Institute, in the north of the city, this delightful little church in traditional village style is set in attractive parkland, with a number of other interesting buildings nearby.
This large, hugely impressive Russian Revival church was built for St. Petersburg's Temperance Movement in one of pre-revolutionary Petersburg's most impoverished areas, and once attracted up to 1 million worshippers a year.
Named after a famous Byzantine icon, this large neo-classical church is part of the buildings that once comprised the Imperial Stables, just a few steps from the Church of the Saviour on the Blood.
Although long neglected, this fascinating church on Liovskiy Prospekt is the centre of St. Petersburg's Cossack community, and has a particularly fine belltower with curving neoclassical colonnades.
A delightful architectural oddity, this small church in the far south of the city is popularly known as 'Kulich and Paskha' thanks to the resemblance of its rotunda and pyramid design to a traditional Easter cake and pudding.
One of the largest and most beautiful churches on Vasilevsky Island, the neoclassical Church of St. Catherine is slowly being restored to its former glory, and is most famous for the silver angel that will soon be returned to its perch atop the church's central dome.
Built to celebrate Peter the Great's naval victories over the Swedes, this charming baroque church in one of the most beautiful areas of the historic centre has survived almost unaltered since it was completed in 1739.
One of the last churches to be built in St. Petersburg before the Revolution, this beautiful neo-Byzantine building on the banks of the Gribeodov Canal was built to service the city's Estonian-speaking Orthodox believers.
Built alongside the Chesme Palace as an Imperial posting house on the way to Tsarskoe Selo, this wedding-cake gothic building is one of the most unusual and attractive in St. Petersburg, and is surrounded by a small graveyard for heroes of the Siege of Leningrad.
In the beautiful seclusion of Kamenny Island, this delightfully simple gothic church was built for Emperor Pavel I, and frequented by some of St. Petersburg's most prominent citizens. Alexander Pushkin even devoted a cycle of verses to it.
