“Did you know that Vladimirsky Prospekt got its name from a church?” That’s something you might hear locals say about the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Today, we will explore this landmark.
Completed in 1783, the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God is one of St. Petersburg’s oldest churches. It presents a captivating blend of baroque and classical architectural styles. This combination makes it a unique addition to the city’s architectural history. No other church in St. Petersburg shares its design.
The Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God boasts five different-sized, onion-shaped cupolas. They rise into the sky. Glistening Orthodox crosses top them off. The church includes five sections, two stories, and three porticos. An impressive four-tiered bell tower stands adjacent to the church. It was built to Quarenghi’s design in 1791.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Church was built to shelter the historic Vladimir icon of the Mother of God. This icon journeyed from Jerusalem to Constantinople. Then it went to Kiev. Prince Andrey Bogolyubskiy acquired it. He brought it to Vladimir, the ancient Russian city after which it is named. The Orthodox Church credited the icon with freeing Moscow from Mongol control.
Construction of the stone church took over 20 years. Several architects contributed to its design. Therefore, no single architect is credited with the cathedral. In 1831, A. Melnikov added a stone portico with two stairways to the main building’s second floor. Two years later, A. Golm built another two-story portico on the northern and southern facades. It included a two-story room for a staircase. Architect F. Rusk added a fourth tier to the bell tower between 1848 and 1849. A fence was installed around the church in 1850-1851. Two stone chapels were added as well. The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Church, bell tower, and chapels were also gilded at this time.
Inside the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, an elaborate baroque iconostasis awaits. It was transferred from the Anichkov Palace chapel in 1808. Italian sculptor Bartolomeo Rastrelli created it in the mid-18th century. Though most treasures were looted during the Revolution, the iconostasis survived. It remains one of the few of its kind in Russia. It is now an architectural monument.
The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God Church is located in a favorite area of the city’s intelligentsia. Fyodor Dostoevsky was one of its notable parishioners.
Restoration began in the 1970s. This included the facade and icons. However, years of neglect posed challenges. In 1990, the church was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Observers described the first services as gloomy and cold. There were only two icons donated by parishioners. The church lacked a cross for over a year after reopening.
The Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God stands as a testament to St. Petersburg’s rich religious and architectural heritage. Its history is long. Its art is impressive. Its survival is remarkable. It gives its name to the Vladimirsky Avenue and Vladimirskaya Square. It is accessible by the station Vladimirskaya of Line 1 and the station Dostoyevskaya of Line 4 of the Saint Petersburg Metro.