Smolny Cathedral, St. Petersburg

Smolny Cathedral is one of the best architectural ensembles in Russian Baroque style. It is located on the shore of the river Neva, on a place, where pitch yards that delivered pitch for ship building were located. In spite of stopping the pitch works on that place soon after St-Petersburg's foundation, this area took name "Pitch Yard" (in Russian - Smolny dvor).

In XVIII century near this picturesque place a small Smolny Palace was constructed, where, during a short period of time, Peter's daughter Elisabeth used to live.

Construction of the magnificent Smolny Cathedral was begun by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the reign of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna and was completed by V.P. Stasov under Emperor Nicholas I.

The Cathedral is rightfully recognized as the gem of St Petersburg baroque. By the royal decree, it was named the Cathedral of all educational establishments. It was in the period when the cathedral construction started that the Empress Elizaveta issued a decree reestablishing in the northern capital a five-domed structure – a characteristic feature of the Orthodox church. 

The cathedral’s spectacular appearance, expressive design and external decor make it one of the highest achievements in world architecture.

The center of the convent complex was a magnificent white and blue Smolny Cathedral, which architecture smoothly combines the styles of Old Russian and European architectural elements. It is located in the center of convent yard and has the height of 93, 7 meters. A splendid frontage's decoration, an abundant usage of gold, ornate combination of blue walls and white-stone modeling give the Cathedral its festivity and solemnity. Around the Cathedral Rastrelli designed four churches and monastery's building.

Rastrelli, who died in 1771, hadn't seen the ending of construction works that stopped in the late XIX century. Architect V. Stasov resumed the church's decoration works in 1830. Big church hall was marbled, three majestic iconostases were constructed. Among preserved treasures of the Cathedral we should name icons of A. Venetsianov "The Resurrection" and "Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple".