Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Religious Architecture (see also Religion.Church)
Categories / Religion. Church/Places of Worship (see also Architecture and Urban Planning)
HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, located at 1 Monastyrka River Embankment, is an architectural monument of the late Classicism style. Its location in the centre of the Lavra ensemble, between Dukhovsky and Feodorovsky buildings was planned in the original designs by D. Trezzini. The first stone church was constructed in 1722-30 (architect T. Schwertfeger), but in 1753-55 it was demolished without being consecrated. In 1778-90 a magnificent church with a single altar was built. It featured a large cupola, a Tuscan portico and two bell towers (architect I. E. Starov). The loggia of the portico is adorned with bas-reliefs by sculptor F. I. Shubin. Artists J. Mettenleiter, I. A. Akimov (icons) and F. D. Danilov (interior painting), modeler F. Lamoni, marbler L. Pinchetti and bronze master P. Azhi participated in the decoration of the church. The portrait of Empress Catherine II by D. G. Levitsky was set above the space reserved for the tsar. From 1770, the right side-altar contained the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky (returned in 1989) kept in a silver shrine, created in 1750-53 according to the sketch by G. C. Grot at the Mint (today it is on display in the State Hermitage). On St. Alexander Nevsky's holiday (30 August, old style) cavaliers of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky gathered in the cathedral. In 1862, the malachite ciborium for the Shroud of Christ, made by P. P. Thomire in Paris (today on display in the State Hermitage), was arranged in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 1933, the Holy Trinity Cathedral was closed, and in 1953 returned to the eparchy and restored (architect K. D. Khalturin). In 1957, the cathedral was consecrated anew and since then functioned as a parish church. In 1996, it once again became the monastery cathedral.

References: Тихон (Покровский П. Ф.). К столетию Свято-Троицкого собора Александро-Невской лавры: Ист. сведения о построении собора и его состояние в настоящем виде. СПб., 1890; Антонов В. В., Кобак А. В. Святыни Санкт-Петербурга: Ист.-церков. энцикл. СПб., 1994. Т. 1. С. 34-37.

V. V. Antonov. Akimov Ivan Akimovich
Alexander Nevsky, Duke
Azhi Peter Petrovich (Engis Pierre Louis)
Catherine II, Empress
Danilov Fedor Danilovich
Grot Georg Christofor
Khalturin Kirill Dmitrievich
Lamoni Felice
Levitsky Dmitry Grigorievich
Mettenleiter Jacob
Pinchetti L.
Schwertfeger Theodor
Shubin Fedot Ivanovich
Starov Ivan Egorovich
Thomire Pierre-Philippe
Trezzini Domenico
Monastyrka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 1
Тихон (Покровский П. Ф.) К столетию Свято-Троицкого собора Александро-Невской лавры: Ист. сведения о построении собора и его состояние в настоящем виде. СПб., 1890
Антонов В. В., Кобак А. В. Святыни Санкт-Петербурга: Ист.-церков. энцикл. СПб., 1994 Alexander Nevsky Lavra
St. Petersburg Mint
St. Petersburg Mint
Hermitage
Hermitage
St. Petersburg Eparchy
1790