The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Epiphany, the first naval cathedral that traditionally served as a spiritual support for sailors of the Russian fleet, was the regimental church of the Guards crew.

This cathedral is one of the bright examples of Elizabethan Baroque in church architecture. It is located in St. Petersburg on Nikolskaya Square. The cathedral has influenced the toponymy of the city, giving its name to the square, alley, market, and the Old and New Nikolsky bridges, as well as the former name of Glinka Street. The parish of the church belongs to the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and is part of the Admiralty deanery.

The St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in St. Petersburg invariably attracts the attention of tourists coming from different countries to the famous "city on the Neva." The beauty of this unique building and its luxurious interior decoration are not the only reasons for its popularity. The exterior and interior of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral reflect an entire era, great and contradictory.

History of the Naval Cathedral

The founder of St. Petersburg and the creator of the Russian military fleet was Peter the Great. The first churches intended for the spiritual support of shipbuilders and sailors appeared in the Northern capital thanks to the decree of this famous ruler. Eight years after his death, this function passed to the canvas church located across the Moyka River and consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is traditionally considered the patron of all travelers, including those crossing water expanses.

Peter I's daughter, Elizabeth, who ascended the throne in 1741, was remembered by her contemporaries as a beautiful and devout woman. She repeatedly declared her intention to continue her father's initiatives. One manifestation of such a policy was the decree of June 16, 1752, which initiated the design and construction of a stone church in memory of the glorious deeds of the Russian fleet.

By that time, the Nikolskaya Church was wooden and had become very dilapidated; it needed to be replaced with a new building. A year later, the laying of the future St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral took place, but Elizabeth Petrovna did not live to see its completion. Construction work finished about six months after her death, when Catherine II was on the throne. It was she who confirmed her predecessor's intention and ordered the new cathedral to be called naval. All important events in the life of the Russian fleet were to be marked in this church.

During the Great Patriotic War, the domes of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral had to be concealed from German artillery and pilots under camouflage netting. However, most of the trials it endured were related to the persecution of religion after the 1917 revolution. Nevertheless, this church, unlike many other religious buildings, was not turned into a museum and continued to be used for worship.

Architectural Features of the Naval Cathedral

The St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral is a two-story building with five towers, a central octagonal one and side quadrangular ones, topped with gilded domes. According to legend, Peter the Great liked the five-domed Assumption Cathedral in Astrakhan and wanted to build a similar church for sailors. The architect S. I. Chevakin, to whom Elizabeth entrusted the design of the new church, decided to realize the intended idea of the tsar but did so in his own way.

From a distance, the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral indeed resembles a traditional multi-domed Russian church. However, during the lifetime of Peter I and for a long time after his death, such a style was not used. At that time, single-domed churches with high spires were preferred. Thus, the construction of a five-domed church appears as a return to ancient tradition, but only at first glance.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the architect did not follow the path of builders of the 16th and 17th centuries. The style of this building is called "Elizabethan Baroque," characterized by luxurious decoration and whimsical forms, having nothing in common with either ancient Russian churches or the laconicism of "Peter's" architecture. The sculptures, numerous columns with Corinthian capitals, and balconies with wrought iron railings on the bright blue facade are particularly memorable.

A short distance to the west of the cathedral stands the bell tower, built as a separate four-tiered building, three of which are supported by columns. A slender long spire is installed on the bell tower's dome.

Iconostasis and Interior Decoration of the Naval Cathedral

In the interior of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, the "gallant age" is not as clearly manifested as in its exterior appearance. Much here resembles the traditional decoration of Orthodox churches. To notice the trends fashionable during the times of Elizabeth and Catherine II, one must closely examine the icons created by the Kolokolnikov brothers, Fedot and Mina, among the best artists of that time.

Also noteworthy is the selection of images of saints for the Epiphany Church located on the second floor of the cathedral. Among them, one can notice the heavenly patrons of the ruling dynasty, Peter, Elizabeth, and Catherine.

A special detail of the interior is the carved iconostases. Their original author was I. F. Kanaev, but in the early 19th century, restoration was required as the wood had become very dilapidated. The masters tried to follow the original model, but the current iconostasis is not a complete copy of the original.

The St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral is not only a magnificent architectural monument but also an active Orthodox church. Within its walls is kept a particle of the Ark of St. Nicholas, the relics of St. Theodosius, Archbishop of Chernigov, and many other important relics for the faithful. Some of them are presented on the official website of the cathedral along with the most valuable icons.

The Naval Cathedral Today

In 2000, a chapel was consecrated in the lower tier of the bell tower, and on April 19, 2008, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga performed the rite of consecration of the upper church of the Epiphany Church. Relics, icons by the Kolokolnikovs, and a reliquary with particles of the relics of saints, starting from the first Christian martyrs, were returned to the church.

Memorial plaques to the crews of the nuclear submarine "Komsomolets" and other sunken Soviet submarines are installed in the upper church. Memorial services for the crew members are held on days of remembrance. Since 2000, the cathedral has been commemorating the sailors of the nuclear submarine "Kursk." In 2021, the beginning of the restoration of the bell tower was announced.