Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood: The Story of construction and amazing facts
In the heart of St. Petersburg on the embankment of the Griboyedov Canal, stands the extraordinary beauty of the temple with colorful domes, which differs from other churches not only for its multi-colored, but the tragic history of his appearance. Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, was erected on the occasion of the death of Alexander II of the hands of terrorists, the people he was called Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. Why is church built on the occasion of the tragic death of the Emperor, it has a festive look?
Temple knowingly dedicated Resurrection of Christ. Thus firmly established the link between the crucifixion of the Savior, his subsequent resurrection and the martyrdom of the Russian tsar. The people said: "Sovereign died / The second time Jesus was crucified." And according to Christian teaching, death - it is not the end of life, but only a transition to another world. Therefore, built on the site of the tragic events of a light temple is quite appropriate.
The death of the Emperor Alexander II of
The Russian Emperor Alexander II
Alexander II is inscribed in the history of Russia, as the king-reformer, has carried out many important reforms for the benefit of the people, one of which - the abolition of serfdom. And for all these acts the people paid him the fact that Alexander II became the record for the number of attempts. The terrorists have repeatedly fired at him, blew up the Winter Palace and the imperial train, but six times find themselves on the verge of death, the emperor lived.
However, March 1, 1881 terrorists have succeeded - bomb thrown directly under the king's feet, cut short his life. Prepared an attack group of the People of terrorists headed by Sophia Perovskoy. On the morning of the carriage with the king returning from Mikhailovsky Manege in the Winter Palace after visiting the divorce troops Narodovolets Trotters threw a bomb, but the king was alive again, killing two escorts and the boy-peddler. The king got out of the carriage and went to the wounded, at this time ran up to him another Narodovolets, Grinevitsky, and dropped another bomb. Alexander and the terrorist from a massive explosion thrown to channel the fence.
The attempt on Alexander II, March 1, 1881
It was the end, after 3 hours the king was gone. He was succeeded by his son, Alexander III.
He died of wounds and Grinevskii. Other participants of the assassination were soon arrested and hanged on the parade ground of the Semenov.
The execution of the People
the emperor's death shocked all of Russia. Boris Chicherin wrote:
"Terrible accident ended one of the greatest reigns in Russian history. The monarch, who carried out a cherished dream of the Russian people, who gave freedom to twenty million peasants, established an independent and transparent trial, gave zemstvo government, removed censorship with the printed word, the monarch, the benefactor of his people, he fell from the hands of evildoers, pursuing it for a few years and finally reached his goal. This tragic fate can not but produce a stunning effect on anyone in whom not clouded thought and human feeling "does not run out in the clod.
"He did not want to look better than it was, and often was better than it looked" (Kliuchevsky).
The history of the construction of the temple
At the site of the tragedy, which "shed sacred blood of the Emperor", erected a temporary monument and set time.
But Alexander III issued an order in this place to build a temple, and while preparing a project to build a temporary chapel and the chapel was already 4 April.
The chapel on the site of the king's death
Alexander III wanted the future church was completed in pseudo-style of church architecture of the XVII century, and was certainly on the same place.
In 1893, Alexander III laid the first stone in the foundation of the temple, and began preparations.
The solemn laying of the temple of the Resurrection on the Catherine Canal October 6, 1883 In 1887, it was finally approved by the project, sponsored by A. Parland and Archimandrite Ignatius of Trinity-Sergius desert, but he demanded a revision, so to work and connect to other architects. As a result, the final version is not like the original draft A. Parland.
The construction of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
Construction was delayed for a long time, the cathedral was consecrated only in 1907.
The Emperor Nicholas II and Empress retinue and company of palace grenadiers come with a procession along the "Savior on Spilled Blood." Petersburg. 1907
The procession around the temple
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. Photo 1910
Conquering the beauty of
Executed in pseudo-Russian style, bright and festive, with elegant domes of the four-enamel, the temple is in harmony with the surrounding austere building.
The domes of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Due to the humid climate of the northern capital with the interior painting is not used, as in other churches, and mosaic. the walls, pillars and arches of the temple, its iconostasis covered with mosaic patterns and icons on the sketches of great masters such as VM Vasnetsov, MV Nesterov, etc. The area covered with mosaics, -. more than 7000 square meters. m Even icons -. and those made of mosaic!
In addition, for finishing used semi-precious stones and tons of Italian colored marble. All this grandeur created together Russian and German masters.
Mosaic in the interior of the cathedral
a sacred place in the temple is the tent of gems - on four columns of jasper erected canopy of rock crystal with a cross on top. Inside the tent are come down to us intact piece of stone blocks and a part of the lattice to the waterfront, keeping to himself the blood of the murdered king.
A sacred place in the cathedral
A piece of paving stone and a part of the lattice to the waterfront
"charmed" the temple of
In Soviet times, this temple, as in many others, fate was not easy. For a long time it was used as a warehouse, and before the war decided to destroy even began to lay explosives. But the blow did not have time, the sappers immediately called to the front.
During the siege there was a mortuary, all the shells flew by. As it turned out, one of them was still in the main dome, but lay there, not break, until 1961, until it was discovered and defused.
Temple stood and in Khrushchev's time, when blown up about a hundred churches in Leningrad. Apparently, no wonder the residents of the city call it "enchanted".
In the 70 th year of the temple we decided to refurbish and established forests that stood for twenty years. It was rumored that while this temple stands in forests, is Soviet power in the country. Surprisingly, the forest was removed in August 1991, on the eve of the coup.
Finally, the restoration was completed in 1997 and the church was opened to the public, and in 2004 it was consecrated again.
And now this amazing church - the pride of the northern capital.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood