One of the main decorations of Gatchina is the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Paul, which became the compositional center of the city. Every tourist who wants to learn more about the historical past of Gatchina needs to visit this cathedral, which has been the center of his spiritual life for many years. The massive five-domed stone cathedral with gilded (real Gold) crosses is not only an active temple, but also a unique monument of Russian architecture.
The Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Paul was founded on October 17, 1846 by order of Emperor Nicholas I (1796-1855), and lit later on June 29, 1852 on the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. At the request of the emperor, the cathedral was to perpetuate the memory of his parents – Paul I (1754-1801) and his wife Maria Fedorovna (1759-1828). The cathedral is made in the pseudo-Russian style and is an object of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation. The relics of the Martyr Maria Gatchinsky are the main relic of the cathedral today.
The Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle appeared under Nicholas I. The temple became not only a tribute to the memory of Paul I, who, for his brief presence on the throne, did a lot for the state and the Orthodox Church, but also a necessary measure, since by that time the population of Gatchina was growing rapidly. This meant that the old small city church could no longer accommodate everyone, so it was decided to start building a new one. The place of construction of the future cathedral was personally chosen by Emperor Nicholas I, who ordered to build it on a hill. The design of the cathedral was developed by professor of architecture Roman Ivanovich Kuzmin (1811-1867), whose famous buildings are also the Gatchina Palace and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris.
Over the 165 years of its existence, the Gatchina Pavlovsky Cathedral has gone through many different tests, but was able to reach our days almost in its original form.
Before the start of World War II, it was planned to close the temple and re-equip it with a three-story cinema. However, due to bureaucratic delays and the outbreak of hostilities, this was not destined to happen. During the war, the cathedral was converted by Russian troops into a strategic facility due to its advantageous location on a hill. When shelling began, the temple building received many damage, and the dome was broken by a shell. Nevertheless, even in such a difficult time, the temple did not cease to fulfill its main function and served as a bomb shelter for believers who found their salvation in it. Military events called into question the preservation of the architectural value of the temple, but after the retreat of German troops, services were gradually resumed and restoration work was carried out that allows us to see it today. And on June 29 (July 12), 1977, St. Apostle Paul celebrated his 125th birthday. Today the Pavlovsky Cathedral in Gatchina is functioning.
The Cathedral of the Holy Apostle Paul is a massive five-domed stone building of a cruciform shape, which combines the classical elements and techniques of ancient Russian architecture. The main twelve-sided dome is open from below, from the space of the cathedral, and the four small domes do not fulfill their main function, but serve for beauty. The crosses above the domes are gilded, but the poppies themselves are not covered with gold. Speaking of interior decoration, it is worth mentioning that the cathedral has four limits. The iconostasis of the main aisle was made of noble Greek cypress, which beautifully set off the icons painted on a gold background. The main iconostasis was decorated with twisted columns, and the royal gate was bordered by a carved cornice. The main altar housed icons of saints painted in gold, named for the faces of the Russian Imperial House.
Authors: Anastasia Senina, Anna Danchenko
Location : St.Petersburg
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