Russia Saint Petersburg Church of the Savior on Blood

Church of the Savior on Blood stands in the heart of St. Petersburg, on the embankment of the Griboyedov canal and impresses with its extraordinary beauty with colorful domes. The Church on Spilled Blood is the largest monument of Russian mosaic art, which preserves the best traditions of Russian architectural style.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ was erected on the occasion of Alexander’s II death at the hands of terrorists. People began to call it the Church of the Savior on Blood.

From the history

Emperor Alexander II is inscribed in the history of Russia as a reformer Tsar, who carried out many important reforms for the benefit of the people, one of which was the abolition of serfdom. 

The terrorists had shot at him more than six times. However, terrorists achieved their goal – a bomb was thrown directly at the feet of the Emperor and ended his life on March 1, 1881. 

A temporary monument was erected on the site of the tragedy. Alexander III ordered to build a cathedral on that place, and while the project was being prepared, a temporary chapel was built. Alexander III laid the Foundation stone of the Cathedral of Spilled Blood in 1893. Building was delayed for a long time; the church was consecrated only in 1907.  

Church of the Savior on Blood in St Petersburg was made in Russian style. It has 9 bright and festive elegant domes which are covered with four-color enamel. 

Some interesting facts 

1. There are stones of the cobblestone pavement inside the Church, on which Alexander II fell being mortally wounded. 
2. It’s said that the townspeople removed the crosses from it and lowered them to the bottom of the Griboyedov canal in order to save the decoration of the church from the Bolsheviks. When the Church of the Savior on Blood began to be restored, the workers could not find the crosses. One person, who knew the legend, advised to look for decoration in the water. The workers decided to listen to the advice and sent a team of divers to explore the bottom and they really found there hidden shrines.
3. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a real museum of mosaics, because the richest and largest collection of mosaics is collected under its roof. It is worth noting that the mosaics is the main decor of the church. All the walls, pillars, vaults and even the iconostasis of the Savior on Spilled blood are covered with mosaics. The area which is covered with mosaics is more than 7000 sq. m.
4. The height of central structure of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is 81 meters. This number was chosen as a reminder of the year of the death of the Emperor Alexander II, 1881.
5. During the Second World War a German high-explosive shell weighing about 150 kg hit the tent of the Central tower of Cathedral in time of one of the enemy artillery attacks. The projectile did not explode, but stuck in the ceiling of the vault. The bomb lay in the rafters for nearly twenty years and was accidentally discovered by climbers. The projectile was discovered, removed from the city and destroyed on October 28, 1961.

Currently, it is a Museum, acquaintance with which is invariably included in the excursion programs in the Northern capital of Russia. The Church of the Savior on spilled Blood open daily, except Wednesday, from 10: 30 to 18: 00. The nearest metro station to the Church of the Savior on spilled Blood is Nevsky Prospekt. When you exit from the right side of the Griboyedov canal you will see this monumental Church.