Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt

Building of the church in memory of all the sailors was planned in the middle of the XIX century but no financing was provided. Only in 1897 they started to collect donations for the church from people all over the Russia. The Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt was planned to be high enough to be seen far from the sea. And the bleak Kronshtadt's Anchor Square with the old anchors became a place for building the cathedral.

Lead architect Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov has developed a construction of dome without supporting pillars that was very important for the inner space of the church. Prevoiusly Kosyakov examined the structure of the Hagia Sophia church in Konstantinopol, that is why Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt slightly remindes it.

Construction of the Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt was very important, that's why members of the royal family took part in all ceremonies. In 1903 was layed the foundation stone and in 1913 the church was consecrated in honor of Saint Nicholas. People also called the cathedral as Nicholas' in the name of Emperor Nicholas II.

In the times of Soviet Union theomachists closed Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt. Fortunately it was only turned into Maxim Gorky cinema. False ceiling separated the lower third part of inner space and panels hid the decoration of the walls.

During the World War II there was an observation post on the dome of Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt. And in his basement was hidden accurate chronometer of Pulkovo Observatory. That was the church's help in gaining the victory. After the war there was a club and later a war museum.

Restoration of the Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt has been finished not long ago. After all the legal issues have been settled and the restoration has been completed the church was consecrated for the second time in 2013. And in 2014 the cathedral became the main church of the Russian Navy and gained the status of stavropegial church with direct subordination to Saint Petersburg eparchy.