Church of the Savior on Blood

Why go

Church of the Savior on Blood rewards attention to scale, orientation, and setting. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Храм Спаса на Крови) is one of the main sights of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Before leaving, compare one close detail of Church of the Savior on Blood with its broadest public view.

What to look for

• Church of the Savior on Blood: Compare the formal entrance with the less ceremonial edges.
• Church of the Savior on Blood: Watch how light changes the relief and surface color.
• Church of the Savior on Blood: Include the adjacent street or waterfront in the final view.

The full story

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Храм Спаса на Крови) is one of the main sights of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is also variously called the Church on Spilt Blood and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Собор Воскресения Христова), its official name. The name refers to the blood of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who was assassinated on that site in 1881. Construction and features Construction began in 1883 under Alexander III, as a memorial to his father, Alexander II. Work progressed slowly and was finally completed during the reign of Nicholas II in 1907. The Church is prominently situated along the Griboedov Canal. The embankment at that point runs along either side of a canal. Inside, an elaborate shrine was constructed on the exact place of Alexander's death, garnished with topaz, lazurite and other semi-precious stones. Amid such rich decoration, the simple cobblestones on which the tsar's blood was spilled and which are exposed in the floor of the shrine provide a striking contrast.

Useful to know

• Check the current admission calendar for Church of the Savior on Blood before building an interior visit around it.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.