31. Казанский собор – история создания кафедрального собора Санкт-Петербурга/The Kazan Cathedral – the history of creation of Saint-Petersburg Cathedral, 1801-1811

Authors: A.N. Voronikhin (1801 - 1811). sculptors- I.P. Martos, l.P. Prokofyev, S.S. Pimenov, V.I. Demuth-Malinovskiy, F.G.Gordeyev, G.D.Rachette (1801 - 1811)

Address: Kazanskaya ploshchad’

In 1711 a wooden chapel later on rebuilt in a Church of Our Lady of Kazan was built in Nevskiy prospek'. In September 1733 by order of Anna loannovna a stone church was founded on that spol to the design by M. Zcmtsov and was called the Christmas Church. A multi-tiered bell-tower (58 m high) was iis main decor. On 2 July the icon of Our Lady of Kazan was moved from the Trinity Cathedral to the Christmas Church thus having changed iis name. Later on it acquired the status of Cathedral.

By late 18^lh cent, the Cathedral fell into decay and Paul I ordered lo construct a new church on thai place - the Emperor desired to have in Saint-Petersburg a cathedral resembling the Si Peter's Cathedral in Rome. In 1799 the competition for the best design was declared. Count A. Stroganov suggested ihe design worked out by his former serf A. Voronikhin, The project was approved by a new Emperor Alexander I and ihe construction began. The erection of a new church was accomplished in 1811. The architect was awarded the Order of Anna of the 2^nd degree and a life-long pension.

Russian serves were hired to fulfill ihe work. S. Sukhanov supervised the group of stone-masons. The Russian materials were used in the facade decor: Oloncisk marble. Vyborg and Serdobol'sk granite. Riga limestone and Ptidost stone from Gaichina.The Cathedral was constructed wiih the facade overlooking the Catherine Canal (the entrance in the west, the altar in the east), so ihe architect undertook the construction of a grandiose colonnade consisting of 96 columns 13 m high, According to Voronikhin's design the colonnade would have surrounded the Cathedral in the north and in the south, and the side porticos of two colonnades would have joined by the railings at the western entrance to the Cathedral. As a result only the northern colonnade was accomplished. A. Voronikhin also planned ю decorate the colonnade with statues of Archangels Michael and Gavriil placed on stone pedestals on both sides of it.The northern facade is ornamented with four bronze sculptures: Prince Vladimir (S. Pimcnov). Sr Andrew {V. Demuth-Malinovskiy), John the Baptist (I. Martos) and Alexander Nevskiy (S. Pimenov). The Bronze Door was cast by V. Yekimov. The icons were painted by V. Borovikovskiy. 0. Kiprenskiy. A. Ivanov and some other prominent Russian artists. The Cathedral in plan is an elongated cross and is decorated on three sides by porticoes of the Corinthian order. The edifice is surmounted b> a light and elegant dome on a tall drum adorned with pilasters. The Cathedral stands about 70 m high. Its facing, pilasters, columns and elements of us sculptural decor are all done in pale yellow Pudosi stone. Inside the Cathedral there are 56 monolithic pillars (each about 11 m high) of a red granite with bases and the Corinthian capitals of bronze.

In !899 - 1900 the square was laid out in front oi' the Cathedral. The semicircular railings representing lacy sections of intricately wrought iron supported by massive granite sphere-topped pillars were accomplished by A. Voronikhin in 1811 - 1812. After the War of 1812 the Cathedral acquired the character of a pantheon of Russian military glory¹. In June 1813 the remains of an outstanding Field-Marshal Mikhail Illarionovieh Kutuzov were transported ю the Kazan Cathedral and buried in the vault with the captured banners and the keys from the surrendered cities. In 1837 monuments to M. Kuiuzov and Barclay dc Tolley by B. Orlovskiy were erected in front of the Cathedral.After ihe October Revolution the cross was taken away from the cupola lo be replaced with a gilded sphere with a spire. The icon of Our Lady of Kazan was mo\ed to the Prince Vladimir Cathedral. Since 1932 the former Kazan Cathedra! served as premises to the Academy of Sciences' Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism.The Kazan Cathedral was renovated and opened for services only in 1991 when the icon of Our Lady of Kazan and the cross from the dome were returned. In 2003 the bell of 4 tonnes weight and 2 m height was cast for the 300^lh anniversary of Saint-Petersburg. On 12 September every year a ceremonial procession follows the way from the Kazan Cathedral to the Alexander Nevskiy Lavra Ensemble.