In mid-May 1703, the Russian Tsar Petr1 in the delta of the Neva on the Hare island laid the fortress, naming it St. Petersburg, in the name of its patron saint.This summer, along with other buildings laid wooden church, which was called in honor of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.After the victory at Poltava in 1709 Petersburg was built up magnificent buildings, because it is now the capital of the Russian state.
Necropolis dynasty
Peter and Paul Cathedral - an outstanding architectural monument of the XVIII century, it is widely known, and the glittering golden spire is one of the symbols of the city.But not everyone is aware that the cathedral is the burial place of the Russian Imperial House , the burial place of Peter I and Catherine I , and subsequent crowned heads of the dynasty.
But contemporaries perceived primarily as a cathedral crypt of the Romanov dynasty, there were only those ordinances that were devoted to these sad events, baptisms and weddings were not held.Registration mourning ceremonies involved the best architects and artists of St. Petersburg.Unfortunately, the funeral procession could only see contemporary events, after all furniture disassembled and the temple took its usual form.
traditionally in the cathedral place of burial is not only embalmed bodies in a hermetically sealed coffin, but spread out through the vessels of the internal organs.The day before the official ceremony, they were placed on the bottom of the grave.In this procedure, there were, as a rule, only members of the "sad Commission", has been organizing the funeral, and the clergy.
From the history of the cathedral
In 1712, on the birthday of the city of Peter 1 in front of many of the highest people laid the first stone of the cathedral on the site of the wooden church.In 1733 the temple was consecrated, it is designed in the Baroque style and is one of the magnificent monuments of architecture.The cathedral is a rectangular building positioned from east to west over the eastern part of the drum with a dome rises, and the west side stands the bell tower with its gilded spire at 122.5 meters, which to date is the tallest building in St. Petersburg.Since 1858, the church called "St. Peter and Paul."In the second photo you can see the interior of the cathedral, where he is buried Peter 1.
Under the leadership of the king of the cathedral was built very quickly.Domenico Trezzini - Swiss engineer - architect was appointed, he was given the best craftsmen.After 8 years outside the building of the cathedral was completed.From Holland were brought to the clock chimes, they purchased for huge money - 45,000 rubles.After 3 years, it was set gilded spire.The iconostasis, which had Petr1 laid on the shoulders of the architect Zarudny, produced 4 years.Under his leadership, according to the drawings the artists worked Ivanov and carts.
Emperor Peter the Great is buried where?
likely at the beginning of the construction of the king, following the example of Constantine - the first Christian emperor - wanted to transform the cathedral in the tomb of his dynasty.Before the construction of the Cathedral of the kings buried in the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin (Boris Godunov rests in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra).
For two centuries, Peter and Paul Cathedral, where he is buried, Peter 1, is the burial place of almost all the Emperors Alexander III and to many of family relatives, only Peter II and Ioann VI are buried elsewhere.The very first in 1708, even in the wooden church had rest in the age of one and a half years, Catherine, daughter of Peter 1.
Graves celebrities.Peter I and his descendants
before completion in the cathedral were made and other burial.In the summer, in 1715, brought here the remains of Peter's daughters 1 - Natalia and Margarita.In winter - Marfa Matveyevna (Apraksina), who is the wife of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich.In 1717 his son Peter was buried 1 - Paul, in the following year laid to rest the soul of the eldest son of Peter 1 - Alexei Petrovich from his first wife Lopukhina, who was executed on the orders of his father for anti-state activities.5 years later, in 1723 we are buried Mary A. - disgraced sister of Peter Graves 1. Tsarevich Alexei, and Tsarina Marfa Matveyevna under the bell tower in the chapel of St. Catherine.Grave, where is buried Peter 1, in the photo below.
It is here, in the unfinished cathedral, March 8, 1725 placed the body forever asleep (28 January), the Emperor Peter the Great.The project D.Trizini was built a temporary wooden church inside the cathedral, and moved to a lavish ceremony deceased Peter the Great and his daughter Natalia, who died March 4.
tightly closed casket, where he is buried, Peter 1, was installed on the steering golden cloth catafalque under a canopy.In the summer of 1727 to put the coffin with his dead wife, Empress Catherine 1.
Ashes - earth
Empress Anna Ivanovna in May 1731 ordered the couple to bring the ashes of the earth.The burial took place with a special ceremony on May 29.Among those present were the guests of the Admiralty, the generals, the collegiate ranks.When the coffins staged in a specially designated area of the cemetery at the Imperial Fortress was made 51 volley.
