Trinity Cathedral, Saint Petersburg

The Trinity Cathedral (Russian Троицкий собор, Trinity Sobor, Троице - Измайловский, Troize - Izmailovsky Sobor ) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in the center of Saint Petersburg and one of the most distinctive buildings in the city. It was built as a regimental church for the Ismailovsky regiment.

History

Beginnings of the Church (1828-1835)

The in late Classicist style from 1828 to 1835 after plans by the architect Vasily Petrovich Stasov ( 1769-1848 ), built on the plan in the form of a Greek cross central building is crowned by a central large dome and four smaller side domes. The domes are distinguished by their unusual blue color scheme and were formerly occupied with golden stars. The church has a rich interior. The three-nave church is divided by powerful columns with Corinthian capitals. The paintings on the vaults and the dome were created from designs by Giacomo Quarenghi. The iconostasis made ​​of white marble and red agate are provided among other things, copies of the works of Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens and Guido Reni.

Aftermath of the Russian Revolution (1917-1922)

As a result of the Russian Revolution, much of the church treasures was plundered in 1922 and the church in 1938 finally closed. It served then as a warehouse of the Ministry of Post and in 1990 the Russian Orthodox Church was returned.

Fire during the Restoration (2006)

2004 began with restoration work to restore the pre-revolutionary state of the church again. It was created on 25 August 2006 on a scaffolding which surrounded the main dome, a major fire, through which the main dome, one of the largest and most important timber domes of Europe, and one of the side domes collapsed. The other three side domes were damaged by the fire.

All church treasures, however, could also thanks to the use of passers-by, be brought to safety. The damage still amounted to several million euros. End of 2007, the fire damage was eliminated. Further work was carried out in 2008 and 2009.