Naval Cathedral

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Religious Architecture (see also Religion.Church)
Categories / Religion. Church/Places of Worship (see also Architecture and Urban Planning)
NAVAL CATHEDRAL of Kronstadt, St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, located at 1 Yakornaya Square, Kronstadt. The main cathedral of the Baltic Fleet. The idea to build the cathedral was first voiced in 1830, but only in 1897 was the construction committee, headed by Vice-Admiral S. O. Makarov, established and a fundraising campaign initiated. The plans for the cathedral, which would hold 6,000 worshippers was developed by architect V. A. Kosyakov (see Kosyakov Family), who followed the Byzantine style for his project. In 1902, the construction site of the cathedral was consecrated by Fr. Ioann of Kronstadt, and in 1903 the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone took place in the presence of the Imperial family. The enormous building with three side-altars (83.2 meters long, 64 meters wide, 70.6 meters tall) dominates the skyline. It is crowned with an enormous cupola, which has a diameter of 26.7 meters. The construction was completed in 1909 and in 1913 the entire building was consecrated. The construction cost two million roubles. The iconostasis and white marble ciborium were done by N. A. Popov, and vaults and wall-paintings in the Byzantine style, painted by M. M. Vasilyev. The floor has mosaic patterns with a naval motif. Black marble plaques with the names of naval officers, fallen in battle or in the line of duty were placed on the walls. In 1913, the monument to Admiral Makarov (by sculptor L. V. Shervud) was unveiled in front of the cathedral. In the 1920s Bishop Venedikt (Plotnikov), who was later martyred, was the senior priest of the cathedral. In 1929, the Naval Cathedral was closed down, and the icons were burnt. In 1932, the building was reconstructed (architect S. O. Ovsyannikov) and used as a cinema. After the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the church housed the Naval Club and the Kronstadt Fortress Museum. At the end of 2002, a cross was raised on top of the cathedral.

Reference: Морской собор в Кронштадте: [Сб.]. / Сост. А. П. Шумский. М., 1998.

V. V. Antonov. Kosyakov Vladimir Antonovich
Makarov Stepan Osipovich
Ovsyannikov Sergey Osipovich (Iosifovich)
Popov Nikolay Alexandrovich
Sergiyev (Kronshtadsky) Ioann Ilyich, the Saint
Shervud Leonid Vladimirovich
Vasilyev M.M.
Venedikt (Plotnikov Viktor Vasilievich), Archbishop
Yakornaya Square/Kronshtadt, city, house 1
Морской собор в Кронштадте: [Сб.]. / Сост. А. П. Шумский. М., 1998 Baltic Fleet
Kronstadt Fortress