Wednesday 13 June 2012

The Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg

Our next stop on the cruise was St. Petersburg in Russia. We are not starting this time with a General Impressions article but with a visit to a church. On our blog we write a lot about churches but the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood is unique and totally different than what we are used to. The church is one of the main attractions of this fabulous city. From a religious point of view of many visitors, the church refers to the blood of Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. His blood was spilled. This was however not the original intention of this church. It was constructed in 1883 as a memorial for Tsar Alexander II, who died after an assault on the place where the church is now located. The blood of the Tsar was spilled on this place. With it 7.500 square metres of mosaics and coloured domes, it became a unique piece of architecture. It makes me think a bit about the temple of Dawn or the Wat Arun in Bangkok which is also covered with mosaics.

Onze volgende halte op de cruise is St. Petersburg in Rusland. Deze keer starten we niet met een algemene indrukken artikel maar met een bezoek aan een kerk. Op onze blog schrijven we regelmatig over kerken maar de “Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood” is uniek en volledig anders dan we gewoon zijn. De kerk is één van de meest belangrijkste bezienswaardigheden van het fantastische St. Petersburg. Van uit een religieus standpunt voor vele bezoekers, refereert de naam van de kerk naar het bloed van Jezus die stierf aan het kruis voor onze zonden. Dit is echter niet de oorspronkelijke betekenis van de kerk. De kerk werd opgericht in 1883 als gedenk monument voor Tsaar Alexander II die strief na een aanslag op zijn leven, hier op de plaats waar nu de kerk staat. Men refereert hier dan naar het bloed van Tsaar Alexander II. Met zijn 7.500 vierkante meter mozaïek en kleurrijke koepels, is de kerk architecturaal uniek. Het doet me een beetje denken aan de tempel van de dageraad of de “Wat Arun” in Bangkok. Deze is ook volledig bekleed met mozaïek..
 
Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior

Church of our savior
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12 comments:

  1. I would love to know St. Petersburg. The cathedral is beautiful. Excellent photographs.

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  2. What a stunning and most beautiful cathedral it is! I notice a lot of jackets and coats. Is it colder there right now?

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  3. Oh my gosh, it is AMAZING!!!!! St. Petersburg, I have always wanted to visit there, so I hope you have many more posts about it!! Tell, me, what use do they put all those rooms to?? Did you go inside? Do they even have tours? Is it a working church and how many members do they have? Is it Russian Orthodox? Now aren't you sorry you posted this after all my questions, ha ha!!! I am going to LOVE your Russian posts!!!

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  4. Wondermooi, Filip ! Woordeloos...
    Lie(f)s.
    @Was vorige week op stap in Brugge met een docent schilderkunst, Konstantin GRACHEV, uit St.-Petersburg. Hij leidde workshops met Jonge Russische kunstenaars en studenten van Academie Brugge.

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  5. Gosh you two do get around. Those domes are so pretty - just like a fairy tale, and the colours against the sky are magical.

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  6. very nice and beautiful church..
    we do not have this kind in my country

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  7. Ja zeg, heel mooi! Sprookjesachtig.
    Groetjes en een fijne tijd! Mirthe

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  8. the first and the last pics are simply AMAZING! what a great blue sky and such an architectural masterpiece, hope you are having tons of fun+recharging the batteries with tons of good mood+energy!

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  9. Your fotos are really amazing. St Petersburg is great and beautifull city and the church is wonderfull.
    Greetings
    orvokki

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  10. These are some amazing photos, and looks on the third one as if there are many pictures on the sides of the building. Very ornate

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  11. Your pictures are wonderful and you are lucky with this beautiful sunshine!When we visit there it was rain and cold winter....
    Leia

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  12. Prachtig !!
    Wij waren hier augustus 2010.
    Een reis om nooit te vergeten.
    :)

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