“A ship in full sail.” That’s how some describe the Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord.
Welcome to the Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord. This small church stands on Gutuevsky Island. It is near Ekateringof Park. It is a late 19th-century building. The Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord is undergoing restoration after the Soviet period.
This was the parish church for St. Petersburg’s main sea port. The port moved here from Kronshtadt in the mid-19th century. Vasiliy Kosyakov designed the Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord. He was Director of the Petersburg Institute of Engineering and Construction. Ivan Boronin largely funded the church. He was a wealthy textiles manufacturer. Boronin wanted a family mausoleum here.
The Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord was completed in 1888. It is made of red brick. The facade has intricate decorations. There are tiled mosaics and gilded reliefs. “Kokoshniki” adorn it too. These are medieval Russian decorations. They look like traditional headdresses. The church has large arched windows. It features a single gold dome and a slender belltower. Its location is right on the banks of the Ekateringofka River.
Inside the Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord, the decorations were rich. There was a marble altar and an ivory iconostasis. Bright frescoes covered all the walls. Sadly, these precious decorations were plundered after the Revolution. The church was used as a warehouse, a soap factory and a garage. During the Second World War it was shelled. It was returned to the Orthodox Church in the early 1990s. A massive restoration program is nearing completion.
The Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord is far from tourist routes. It is worth seeking out if you want to explore the industrial architecture of the Obvodny Canal. Also you can explore the neglected Kirovskiy District.
Even with ongoing scaffolding, the Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord is functioning. Daily services take place here. The Icon of the Birth of Christ miraculously restored itself in March 1998. It is a popular shrine for the faithful. Many come at Christmas. On January 19, the Baptism of Christ, many collect freshly blessed holy water.
The Church of the Epiphany of Our Lord stands as a testament to faith and resilience. Its history is etched in every brick and mosaic. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Reflect on its journey from opulence to ruin and back to life.