Top 10 largest churches in Russia

In 988, by decision of Prince Vladimir, the Baptism of Rus’ took place, most of its inhabitants became Orthodox. Then the first temples began to be built. One of the earliest stone Orthodox churches in Rus’ was the Church of the Tithes in the city of Kyiv, which began to be built in 989. Since then, many similar buildings have appeared on the territory of our country, some of which were impressive in their size.

The largest churches in Russia are well known to many believers, because. they are visited by hundreds, thousands of people. Now they are not only a gathering place for the Orthodox, but also famous sights, one of the main decorations of the city. Some of the churches of our country are heard all over the world, because. these are real works of art.

10 Trinity Cathedral, 78 m. Pskov

The main structure of the Pskov Krom – Holy Trinity Cathedral. The modern building – 4 in a row, was built in 1699, and 1 cathedral appeared on the orders of Princess Olga in the tenth century. In the twelfth century it burned down, in 1138 a stone one was laid. In 1363, the temple collapsed, after 2 years, a new one began to be built on the preserved foundation.

In 1609 there was a great fire when everything burned down. In 1682, the construction of a new building began. It extends up to 78 m.

9. Church-bell tower in the name of the resurrection of Christ at the Rogozhsky cemetery, 80 m. Moscow

The center of the Moscow Old Believers, the historical district of this city is Rogozhskaya Sloboda. There you can see the bell tower, built in 1906-1912. It was built according to the design of Fyodor Gornostaev. According to some reports, its height is not 80 m, but 64 m.

The construction of the bell tower was completed in 1911, but work was still being done on its painting. Finishing and decoration. The consecration took place in 1913. The facade of the church-bell tower in the name of the Resurrection of Christ was decorated with images of birds of paradise. The total weight of all the bells was 3 thousand pounds. A book depository was made on the second tier.

In 1933 year church-bell tower in the name of the resurrection of Christ closed, the bells were sent for melting down, and the books and manuscripts were transferred to the library. A warehouse was made from the building itself.

During the war, they wanted to blow up the bell tower, but it survived. After the war, the temple was restored, in 1990 the huge bell was returned. Now this temple is functioning, it has an icon depository and an archive of ancient books.

8. Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral, 80 m. St. Petersburg

This cathedral is located where a wooden chapel once stood. In 1733, a camp temple-tent was erected here for the summer period for the Izmailovsky regiment. When the regiment moved, the temple was transferred to the barracks.

In 1754, they began to build a wooden church, services in which were held only in the summer, because. he was cold. But in 1824 there was a severe flood, from which the church almost collapsed. In 1828, they began to build a new temple, for which Nicholas I himself allocated money, this time from stone.

Lighting Trinity Izmailovsky Cathedral took place in 1835. Once upon a time, a charitable society worked at the temple, taking care of an orphanage, an almshouse. The cathedral was closed in 1938. In 1990 the churches were returned.

7. Savior on Spilled Blood, 81 m. St. Petersburg

Temple Savior on Spilled Blood so named, because was built in the very place where in 1881 there was an attempt to kill Alexander II. He was badly wounded and soon died. That is, something like a monument to the martyred ruler was once built. He settled in the center.

Alexander III, the son of the deceased emperor, ordered construction to begin. It began in 1883 and ended in 1907, at the same time it was consecrated.

In 1930, the temple was closed, it was planned to dismantle it, but then it had to be forgotten. In besieged Leningrad, the cathedral turned into a morgue. In 1970, it became a branch of the St. Isaac’s Cathedral Museum, and in the 80s, its restoration began.

6. Cathedral of the Annunciation, 85 m. Voronezh

Orthodox church. Its height is 85 m, and the highest point of the temple is at a height of 97 m. It began to be built in 1998, completed in 2009. Its architecture is similar to the Vladimir Cathedral, which was destroyed in 1931.

Crosses Cathedral of the Annunciation visible from almost all parts of the city, they were installed in early 2002, made of stainless steel and coated with titanium nitrite.

5. Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral, 87 m. Nizhny Novgorod

On the arrow of the Volga and Oka, is located Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral, which was built 1868-1881. Merchants in 1856 decided that they needed to build an Orthodox church in honor of the fact that Alexander II had once visited the fair here. For ten years, they managed to raise money (about 455 rubles), on which the construction began.

In 1929 the temple was closed, all valuables were confiscated. The cathedral itself was planned to be demolished and a lighthouse and a monument to V. Lenin built on this very site, but they did not manage to implement the project. During the war, an anti-aircraft battery was located on the roof of the cathedral, which protected the city from German raids. Now important for Orthodox shrines are stored here: icons and relics.

4. Smolny Cathedral, 93,7 m. St. Petersburg

One of the most beautiful cities is located Smolny Cathedral. This temple was called the cathedral of educational institutions, so work is being done here to instruct the youth. In the 1740s, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna wanted to build a monastery along with a temple, where she planned to spend her last days in peace and quiet.

The laying of the cathedral was in 1748, in the presence of the Empress herself. It was built incredibly quickly, but because of the war, the work was not completed, and after the death of the empress, it was suspended. For almost seventy years it remained unfinished, its condition was rapidly deteriorating, cracks appeared, water collected in the cellars.

Nicholas I ordered the cathedral to be finished, and in the late 1820s, work began, the building was completed in 1835. In 1922 it was closed and used as a warehouse for scenery. In 1967, its reconstruction began.

3. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, 96 m. Khabarovsk

It was built on the banks of the Amur from 2001 to 2004. Savior Transfiguration Cathedral impresses with its size and unearthly beauty. In a huge cathedral, 3 thousand people can be at the same time.

2. St. Isaac’s Cathedral, 101,5 m. St. Petersburg

One of the most famous temples. Its construction was supervised by Nicholas I himself. This is one of the most memorable buildings, which can accommodate about 12 thousand people.

Now it is a memorial museum, but four times a year, on the most significant holidays, divine services are held here. The decoration and scale of the cathedral are amazing.

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral It was finished with especially valuable types of stones: malachite, lapis lazuli, marble, decorated with paintings by famous artists (K. Bryullov, F. Riss) and works of remarkable sculptors (I. Vitali, N. Pimenov).

1. Cathedral of Christ the Savior, 103 m. Moscow

It was re-erected in the 1990s on Volkhonka Street. This is a reconstructed temple of the nineteenth century. Alexander I decided to build it in honor of the victory in the war of 1812, work began in 1817.

But in 1825, due to accusations of financial costs, the work was suspended, and a new laying of the cathedral was made in 1839, and finished in 1883. In 1931 the building Cathedral of Christ the Savior demolished, and a pool was built on this site. But in 1994-1999 it was recreated.