One of the largest religious buildings of the Northern capital - a majestic Kazan Cathedral.From the center of buildings on both sides spread wings - Colonnade.Outside the cathedral is decorated with bas-reliefs made of yellowish limestone.The construction makes a huge impression.Internal and external decoration of the temple shakes: 56 magnificent columns, which are made of Finnish pink granite and decorated with gilded Corinthian capitals, create a feeling of spaciousness and grandeur.Construction of the cathedral
Icon of Kazan Mother of God for two centuries the shrine was the house of Romanov.It was first brought to the city by Peter I. In the first half of the XVII century in St. Petersburg was built the church of the Virgin (author of the project - M. Zemtsov, a famous Russian architect).It was on the very spot where today is located the magnificent cathedral.At the end of the century the church and the adjacent buildings were demolished, resulting in the city center was a large area.
Creating a project was announced a creative contest for the design of a new church.It lasted for about three years (1797-1800 gg.).Before the participants was quite a challenge.Paul I wished that the new temple resembled the famous St. Peter's Cathedral, located in Rome, the work of the great Michelangelo Buonarroti and other architects of the Renaissance.The cathedral was bound to decorate the colonnade, approximately the same as Attached St Peter's Basilica by the architect Giovanni Bernini.It was important to write a new monumental building in the already decorated architectural space.
In accordance with the canons of the Orthodox altar of the church to be converted to the east, and the main facade - to the west, ie Meschanskuyu (now Kazan) street.
From the very beginning of the competition was attended by great architects - P. Gonzaga, A. Voronikhin, Cameron.In 1800, for participation in the competition arrived in the capital JF Thomon.
At first Paul I approved the project of Charles Cameron.However, thanks to the support of Count Stroganov, who was responsible for the construction, in November 1800 adopted a draft AN Voronikhin.The decision for a long time and is widely discussed in society.Especially heated discussions provoked origin Voronikhin, who was a former serf Stroganoff.Freestyle he received in 1786.
Shrine Temple
Kazan Cathedral is the main shrine - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God.At the beginning of the XVII century, during the struggle with the Swedish and Polish invaders, the icon is always accompanied by the militia of Prince Dmitry Pozharsky.Then, it was kept in the Moscow Terem Kazan Cathedral.
Peter I in 1710 ordered to bring to St. Petersburg antique repetition of the miraculous image.
When Voronikhin built Cathedral of the Kazan Icon, doing the will of Emperor Paul I, he proposed the prototype used by a semicircular colonnade motif, located in front of the temple.And the rest of the Russian architect has created an independent structure which perfectly poured into the building of Nevsky Prospekt.
95 huge columns delineate small area.Right and left ends Colonnade massive portals.This building has a special meaning - it covers the main body of the church.
Fully building project was not implemented.When it was finished to build the Kazan Cathedral, architect Voronikhin proposed to build an additional colonnade, which was located on the south side of the building.She had to repeat northern counterpart.However, his proposal was rejected.
Description temple
From the streets of Kazan, it was decided to make the main entrance to the Kazan Cathedral.St. Petersburg got a completely unique structure, which is rightly proud of St. Petersburg, and with interest the many guests visiting the city.
In terms of the cathedral resembles the shape of a Latin cross, on its middle stands the huge dome.Exterior columns, entablature, capitals, reliefs and cladding made of stone pudostskogo.This is a fairly soft limestone, with a yellowish tint.It was mined from the nearby St. Petersburg.
statues and sculptural groups decorate the entire city of Saint Petersburg.Kazan Cathedral in this sense is not an exception.Here sculpture is emphasized in the external design.Portals on the attic (on side road), located reliefs.On the west side - the work of IPProkofiev, on the east - the product of IP Martos.Above the altar is the famous bas D. Rachette.
North entrance is decorated with a monumental door, which is a replica of "Gates of Paradise" Baptistery.They are made of bronze sculptor of the Italian Lorenzo Ghiberti.
on both sides of the door, in special niches there are bronze figures of St. Andrew and St. John the Baptist, Vladimir Equal to the Apostles, and Alexander Nevsky.
relief "Adoration of the Magi", "The Annunciation", "Adoration of the shepherds," "Flight into Egypt" are in the north portico.
The interior
Kazan Cathedral (St. Petersburg) is rich and solemn interior.It feels Russian swing and power.The first unique iconostasis was created by drawing A. Voronikhin.
Somewhat later (1836) was made luxury gift to the city.St. Petersburg, Kazan Cathedral got a new, incuse silver iconostasis was made by the architect KATon.He was recaptured by the Don Cossacks in 1812 by the French.
Most of icons wrote the best artists of the early XIX century - OA Kiprensky, V. Borovikovsky, FA Bruni, VKShebuev GI Ugriumov, Bryullov many others.
Value temple
In 1811, he was consecrated by the Kazan Cathedral.St. Petersburg cherishes the memory of the brave Russian soldiers, who right from the temple, held a prayer service, go to the Great Patriotic War.
From the cathedral went to command Russian troops Kutuzov, here his body was buried with honors in 1813, in the crypt under the arches of the Kazan Cathedral.Twenty-four years on the square in front of the Cathedral was a monument to the great commander.
The Kazan Cathedral stored numerous trophies of World War II: banners, defeated troops, captured the keys to the cities and fortresses.
Soviet times
current generation of hard to imagine that in 1929 was closed Kazan Cathedral.St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) started an active struggle against "religious narcotics."After three years in this historic site houses the Museum of the history of atheism.Priceless icons of the cathedral was partially transferred to the Russian Museum.
biggest and most revered shrine of the temple - the icon of the Mother of God - was moved to the cathedral, which was located on the Petrograd side.Interior actually turned out to be looted, he suffered greatly during the various renovations.
Cathedral today
At the end of the last century, the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg Diocese returned, and with it the church back its lost status.At the beginning of the XXI century temple and all the parishioners greeted the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, who has returned to its rightful place.
