Sofia is not only the capital of Bulgaria but also the name of a county town established by Catherine II near her residence in Tsarskoye Selo. The Sofia district included vast territories of present-day Leningrad Oblast and St. Petersburg. Although the district existed for only 28 years, its spiritual center, the magnificent Sofia Cathedral, which remembers Pushkin and Lermontov, still adorns the historic area of Tsarskoye Selo, Sofia.

The name Sofia has symbolic significance. One of the goals of the numerous wars of the Russian Empire with Turkey was the liberation of Constantinople and the Sofia Cathedral, the main shrine of the Orthodox world. It is no coincidence that the three oldest churches founded in Rus in the 11th century were also named after Saint Sophia: in Veliky Novgorod, Kyiv, and Polotsk. The Sofia Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo, by the design of Catherine II, was meant to continue the Byzantine tradition.

All these churches are dedicated to Saint Sophia, the Wisdom of God, an important Christian image. The cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo is also known as the Ascension Cathedral, but traditionally named after the district, it is called the Sofia Cathedral.

Under Catherine II, Russia achieved victory over the Turkish fleet and annexed Crimea. The empress, who repeatedly defeated the Turks, erected a monument in Tsarskoye Selo for each victory. Her 'Greek project' aimed at the defeat of the Ottoman Empire and the revival of Byzantium. She named her second grandson Constantine, hoping he would become a ruler. The town near her residence was named in honor of the Orthodox shrine that was under foreign rule and coincided with one of her names, Sofia.

There was another reason for the creation of the town, separated from the parks and palaces of Tsarskoye Selo. The empress, who valued order and beauty, was dissatisfied with the chaotic settlement around the palace. She decided to relocate the courtiers, military, and service personnel to a separate town with European planning and a unified architectural style.

On the site of the future town was a stone cattle yard with two towers. The layout of the new Sofia, in the form of seven radiating streets, was carried out by court architect Charles Cameron. The central square was allocated for the Sofia Cathedral.

The cathedral was to resemble the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. However, it was designed by Cameron, who had never seen the original. Therefore, it was 'enhanced' by Russian architect Ivan Starov.

The Sofia Cathedral was laid in 1782 in the presence of the empress and the heir. It was consecrated six years later. The rector became the spiritual father of Grand Dukes Alexander and Konstantin Pavlovich, Archpriest Andrei Samborsky.

The cathedral was the largest in the St. Petersburg province. Contemporaries admired its grandeur and beauty, calling it a 'snow-white cloud.' The building in the early classicism style only partially resembles the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople but is similar to the works of Palladio.

The interior decoration corresponds more to the Byzantine model. The dome appears high and airy, supported by columns of black-red granite. Some columns still bear damage sustained during the Soviet era.

The cathedral became the regimental church of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment. The hussars cherished it as a place of glory for Russian arms.

In 1849, an altar dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky was added to the cathedral. At that time, a treasure of silver items from the Catherine era was discovered. The bells were originally placed in the small drum of the cathedral. In 1900, ten copper bells were cast in Valdai.

In the early 20th century, a bell tower was built on Sofia Square according to the design of Leonty Benois. The funds for it were donated by Nicholas II. A chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov was opened on the lower floor.

After the October Revolution, the building was used as a parish church, but in the 1930s it was closed and turned into a military warehouse. The interiors were damaged, the iconostasis was destroyed, and memorial plaques were obliterated. The square in front of the building was used as a military training ground.

In 1989, the cathedral was returned to the Church and underwent a complete reconstruction. Restoration began with the bell tower. A church school and Orthodox gymnasium were opened on the site of a garage cooperative.

Today, services, concerts of spiritual music, exhibitions, and performances are held in the temple. The cathedral continues to fulfill its historical mission, as there are many military educational institutions in the city. Annual prayers are held for military personnel and cadets.

On Christmas, a field kitchen is set up near the cathedral for everyone who wishes to partake.

Nearby, monuments have been erected, including those to Alexander Nevsky and Prince Oleg Konstantinovich. The Sofia Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo is one of the most dignified churches in St. Petersburg.