This week I'm featuring *photo essays from our day in St. Petersburg with TJ Travel.
As we were touring St. Petersburg in the morning, our guide pointed off into the distance and I caught my first glimpse of the onion domes of the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.
As we were touring St. Petersburg in the morning, our guide pointed off into the distance and I caught my first glimpse of the onion domes of the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.
I had one of those travel moments that I live for, a deep intake of breath,
tears stinging my eyes and a dream suddenly becoming a reality.
The Russian Orthodox church was completed in 1907 and is dedicated to Tsar Alexander II who was assassinated along the canal at this site in 1881.
Inside there is a shrine and you can see the actual cobbles where his blood was spilled.
Inside there is a shrine and you can see the actual cobbles where his blood was spilled.
The outside is fantastic but when I walked inside I was completely speechless.
Soaring domed ceilings and every inch covered is the most beautiful glittering mosaics,
over 7,500 square meters of mosaics.
This must be what it feels like to be inside an intricately bejeweled Fabergé egg.
The Soviets closed the church in the 30's and it was used for food storage.
The damage from the revolution and the soviet era was extensive.
It was once earmarked for demolition and even used as a temporary morgue.
An artillery shell was dropped onto the main dome but luckily didn't explode.
After extensive restoration the church reopened in 1997.
It was once earmarked for demolition and even used as a temporary morgue.
An artillery shell was dropped onto the main dome but luckily didn't explode.
After extensive restoration the church reopened in 1997.
It is one of the most magical and beautiful structures I've ever seen.
I still can't believe that I was able to experience this place.
I could not stop taking pictures. They had to drag me to the next site.
Where is the most beautiful church you've ever visited?
I could not stop taking pictures. They had to drag me to the next site.
Where is the most beautiful church you've ever visited?
I've been waiting for this post! My favourite building in St. Pete. I also love St. Basil's in Moscow. My favourite Moscow church has to be the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. I love the story behind it, and that it's actually a replica of a building that was destroyed not so long ago.
ReplyDeleteI've been so in love with your posts this week. Your pictures are just fabulous! Yesterday I spent far too long looking at my own photos from my time in Russia.
So incredible. Walking through places like this just make me in awe of what we can build... so intricate!
ReplyDeleteWow, this looks incredible! I think just seeing the outside would have kept me staring for hours! My favorite church, so far has been Sagrada Familia in Barcelona :)
ReplyDeletethe photos are stunning! i can only imagine how lovely the church itself is.
ReplyDeletesuch gorgeous photos. and no, photo essays aren't lazy! sometimes they take even more work! XOXO
ReplyDeletewelltraveledwife.com
Such amazing pictures! That blue sky is to die for!! I have yet to visit Barcelona but at this time, the most spectacular cathedral I've seen is St Vitus' in Prague... when we walked up, the church bells were chiming and it made our visit a special one :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Look at this place! There's just so much going on - it's a bit overwhelming! How could you ever get any worshipping done with so many distractions on the walls? ;o) I do love all the bright, bold colors though!
ReplyDeleteI must have looked like a zombie. lol Mouth agape and staring at the ceiling. It was so amazing.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get to Barcelona! Hopefully, next year. The list is so long, but I'm going to try hard to get through it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Emi. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shobha!!
ReplyDeleteI so need to get to Barcelona. Someone else mentioned that one as a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI still can't get over how much work those mosaics must have taken.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Amy. I'm so glad it's bringing back great memories. I'm going to have to search your blog for some Russia posts.
ReplyDeleteYes! I remember seeing mosaics in Cyprus, like ancient Roman ones, and I thought the same thing. Imagine the labor involved to create these!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I didn't start blogging until we'd been gone from Russia for over 6 months, but I do have a couple of travel tuesday posts which are Moscow focused. I think I need to do some retrospective posts at some point.
ReplyDeleteHello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i
ReplyDeletecame to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to improve my
web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Have a look at my web site :: safety