 Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

  The most notable building in the fortress is the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Its golden spire became the symbol of our city.

  First, a small wooden church was built in the center of the unfinished fortress in 1703, this church was dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul.

  Then in 1712 the construction of a stone building in place of wooden church began. But the Cathedral of St.Peter and Paul was built in 1733 by the Italian architect Domenico Tresini who had come to work in Russia at the invitation of Peter I.

 122 m 300 m  The architectural style of this cathedral is a combination of different traditions and European styles. The cathedral is 122 m high. It was the tallest building in St. Petersburg before the television tower 300 m high) was erected.

  The building is dominated by a tall bell tower with a spire. The spire is crowned with a weather-vane in the spire of an angel carrying a cross (it is 3 meters high with a wing span of 4 meters).

  The clock of Dutch make chimes the Anthem of the city at noon, at midnight, at 6 a.m. and p.m.

 1858  At first the spire was made of wood and then in 1858 it was replaced with metal and covered with golden plates. Always the repair work on the spire needed courage besides skill.

 Pyotr Telushkin  The feat performed by Pyotr Telushkin (a roofer) is widely known. He managed to climb to the top of the spire using only a rope and no scaffolding and repaired the damaged cross.

  During World War II, when Leningrad was surrounded by enemy’s troops, the spire was camouflaged (as well as others spires and domes of the city). It was painted gray by sportsmen mountain-climbers.

 elongated rectangle  The interior of the cathedral differs much from that of the Russian churches. According to the old tradition churches were usually cross-shaped while this cathedral is shaped as an elongated rectangle.

  There is a marble imitation on the walls and pillars which uphold the vault while ancient churches were decorated with frescoes.

 Ivan Zarudny  A lot of famous Russian artists, sculptors, wood and stone carvers, gilders participated in the construction and decoration of the cathedral. The design was made by the talented Moscow architect Ivan Zarudny

 43 icons  The icon stand (iconostasis) is an unique example of Russian folk craftsmanship. 43 icons of the icon stand were painted by a group of Moscow artists.

 of gilded wood.  The icon stand is made of gilded wood. Most of icons depict biblical kings and patron-saints of the imperial family.

 pulpit  More than a century this cathedral was the main cathedral in Russia and because of that it had a pulpit. This was the first cathedral in Russia with a pulpit which is usually an attribute of a Catholic church.

  The pulpit is decorated with four carved figures of the evangelists and two carved and gilded sculptures of St.Peter and Paul.

  All Russians tsars beginning from Peter I ( all in all 8 tsars and tsarinas, their children and grandchildren) were buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

 Peter II Ivon VI  There are no tombs of Peter II (he died in Moscow and was buried there) and Ivon VI (he was 12 months old when he was imprisoned in the Schlisselburg fortress and was killed by the guards at the attempt to liberate him. He spent 23 years in prison).

  At present the cathedral is open for visitors as a museum. And services are held in the cathedral sometimes too.