Imagine an angel atop a golden spire. That angel graces the Peter and Paul Cathedral here in St. Petersburg. This is not just any cathedral. It’s a symbol of the city itself.
The Peter and Paul Cathedral towers over the Peter and Paul Fortress. Its history began on June 29 1703. Initially a wooden structure, it was replaced by stone. Peter I laid the first stone on June 8 1712. Empress Catherine followed with the second. Construction concluded in 1733. The Peter and Paul Cathedral was consecrated on June 28. Its beauty captivated all who saw it.
The bell tower is a marvel. It features a gilded spire topped by an angel with a cross. The angel stands 3.2 meters tall. The spire reaches 122 meters. Gilding the spire required over 8 kg of pure gold. The total height of the bell tower is 122.5 meters. A clock was installed in 1776. It chimed the national anthem every hour.
Inside the Peter and Paul Cathedral elegance abounds. Marble columns and gold are everywhere. The iconostasis takes the form of a triumphal arch. Icons blend with figures of saints. A gilded chair sits before the altar. It is adorned with carvings and statues of the apostles. The Czar’s Place mirrors the chair. It is richly embroidered with gold.
More than just a church, the Peter and Paul Cathedral is an imperial tomb. Here lie the remains of Russian emperors. From Peter I to Alexander III they rest here. In 1999 the ashes of Nicholas II and his family were moved here.
During the Soviet era church services ceased. But in 2001 the Peter and Paul Cathedral reopened. It stands as a testament to faith and history.
Peter I wanted the Peter and Paul Cathedral to be the tallest structure. It needed to surpass Moscow’s Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Domenico Trezzini designed it. He envisioned the main cathedral of the Russian Empire. It was also to be the burial place of the Romanovs.
The exterior of the Peter and Paul Cathedral differs from other Orthodox churches. It lacks the typical five domes. Instead the bell tower dominates. The spire features an angel revolving around a cross.
The interior of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is divided into three parts. Pillars painted to look like marble support it. Fresco paintings and gilded moldings decorate the ceiling vaults. Twelve large windows bring light into the church.
The iconostasis is carved and gilded. It was made in Moscow. Then it was brought to St. Petersburg. It was assembled inside the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The icons depict St. Alexander Nevsky and the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Many members of the Romanov family are interred here. Peter I was buried here in 1731. Later emperors and empresses joined him. Originally white marble tombstones marked the graves. Later they were replaced with marble sarcophagi.
In 1998 Nicholas II and his family were buried here. Maria Feodorovna was reinterred here in 2006. She was the wife of Alexander III. She had wished to be buried next to her husband.
The Grand Ducal Mausoleum stands to the left of the cathedral. It provides additional burial space. Grand Dukes and Duchesses rest here. Restoration work has preserved its beauty.
When renovators cleaned the angel on the spire in 1997 they found a note. Renovators from 1953 apologized for rushed work. The Peter and Paul Cathedral continues to inspire. Its history and beauty endure.