How about a church shaped like Easter dishes? That’s the Holy Trinity Church. It’s also known as the Kulich and Easter. This name comes from its unique design. Architect N. Lvov created it to resemble Easter dishes. He brought Prince A. Vyazemsky’s idea to life. Vyazemsky was the director of the Imperatorsky Porcelain Factory.
Empress Catherine II funded the Holy Trinity Church. Its construction took place from 1785 to 1790. The church stands on the former estate of Vyazemsky. Today, the church is part of the St. Petersburg diocese. It is also the center of the Nevsky deanery district.
The church imitates an Easter round cake. It is a yellow-brown rotunda in the classicism style. A frieze decorates it. A 16-column colonnade surrounds the rotunda. It has a low green dome with a cross.
The Holy Trinity Church looks larger inside than it does outside. This is due to certain architectural techniques. The dome lacks a drum. The interior is plastered with blue. Corinthian pilasters add detail. Sculpted angels soar above the altar. The blue dome resembles the sky.
The sacristy and porch were added in 1857-59. Two chapels and a fence were also added. These additions expanded the church’s area. However, they altered the compositional plan a bit. In 1905, the temple’s throne was decorated with inlaid marble.
The bell tower is a narrow four-sided pyramid. It imitates Easter. The bell tower has two tiers. A cornice separates them. The lower tier is a baptismal. The upper tier is a belfry with bells. Narrow arches cut through its walls. Metal fences are in their lower parts. Sandrik details adorn the openings. Clock dials are painted on the walls of the bell tower.
Admiral Alexander Kolchak was baptized here in December 1874. Since 1871, a guardianship was active here. The Children’s Union was organized at the church in 1913. Children gathered twice a week for prayers. They also had spiritual conversations.
In 2010, Sberbank of Russia issued a commemorative silver coin. It featured the image of the Holy Trinity Church.
The church remained open during the Soviet era. It operated until 1938. For eight years, it served as a club. In 1946, it was renovated and reopened for worship. However, church values were lost. This included the icon of the Holy Trinity. Peasants donated it in 1824.
The blue-gold iconostasis is from the 18th century. It came from the Church of the Annunciation. The image of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” came from the Transfiguration Cathedral. Sisters from Piskaryovymy donated the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. They saved it from the Nikolskaya Church in Kolpino during the war.
Here, you can see icons of St. Seraphim of Sarov and Nil Stolobensky. They contain particles of their holy relics. The Holy Trinity Church is a unique and interesting place. It is a part of St. Petersburg’s rich history and culture.