The Smolny Monastery is one of the main convents for women located in St. Petersburg. It got its name thanks to the Smolny court, on the territory of which, in the future, a monastery was built. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna (1709-1762). began its construction, which is why it is magnificently called the Elizabethan Baroque. Many architects tried to carry out her project during the life of the empress and after her death, which gives the monastery some mystery.
Smolny monastery is made in the Baroque style. The five-headed monastery was distinguished by its skillful style from all European works in that it was made in this style not only on the main facade, but also from all other sides. On the sides of the monastery you can see the extended buildings of the cells, also in the corner buildings there are four small churches. The main church of the monastery was founded in 1748, the architect was inspired by the work, but, unfortunately, it was impossible to see exactly how Rastrelli Francesco-Bartolomeo saw it, the work was suspended due to the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Fortunately, a wooden model of the church can be seen in the Museum of the Academy of Arts. After the death of Rastrelli, Francesco-Bartolomeo, the no less talented architect Yuri Matveevich Felten began working on the monastery (1730-1801).
Elizaveta Petrovna was going to live in the monastery until her death, but because of various events: wars, unstable work, amendment of the details of the project, she did not live to see the end of construction. The monastery was completed much later than expected, approximately in 1835. But nevertheless, the idea of the empress was preserved, and the nuns managed to live in the monastery. Soon after the accession of Catherine II (1729-1796), the Educational Society for Girls was
founded on the throne in the monastery. This society consisted exclusively of girls from noble families, who later became known as Smolyanka.
People began to come up with real legends associated with the Smolny Monastery, which was still not completed, because his fate changed very often. Only under the reign of Nicholas I (1796-1855) the monastery was finally completed, having undergone quite a few restorations and changes. Smolny monastery was built longer than all monasteries – about 87 years. In 1923 the monastery stopped working and was closed. After that, the Smolny Monastery even managed to turn into a concert hall, but at the moment it again belongs to the church and performs its functions as intended.
While inside and outside the monastery, everyone will feel the true emotions of historical times, enjoy the view of the magnificent domes that miraculously survived after the war, will be able to climb the high belfry to see with their own eyes the beauty of not only the monastery, but also St. Petersburg, Russia.
Authors: Olennikova Darya Agarkova Anna
Location : St.Petersburg
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