Savior on the blood (Church on the Spilled Blood)

Address: Griboyedov Canal, 2a
Nearest metro stations: Nevsky prospect/Gostiny Dvor

Open: 11.00 am – 6.00 pm

Closed: Wednesday

From the Kazansky bridge, in Griboyedov Canal perspective the Church of Christ's Resurrection (Usually called The Savior on Blood) can be seen. It was put up to commemorate the tsar-martyr on the site where on March 1, 1881, I.Grinevitsky, a member of the People's Will society, mortally wounded Emperor Alexander II.

The church was put up with the money collected all over Russia. Architecturally it revives the traditions of the 17th-century Russian church-building. In particular, the compositional techniques and shapes used are similar to those characteristic of the famous Pokrovsky Cathedral (Church of St. Basil the Blessed), that stands in Red Square in Moscow. The church stands out for its complicated and picturesque outline, as well as rich and multicoloured decoration.

The church is a unique architectural monument. It is richly decorated with mosaics outside and inside (7000 square meters). It is the only building in Russian (Pseudo Russian) style in St. Petersburg.
Moreover, the interior is unique, boasting of the mosaic panels made in Frolovs' workshop to the originals by outstanding Russian artists, including V.Vasnetsov, M.Nesterov, A.Riabushkin and others. This is the largest mosaic ensemble existing on the church facades and interior walls.

The exposition of the Savior on Spilled Blood serves as the media for learning Russian history and culture. The objective of the museum is to present the historic and artistic value of the Cathedral, and make our contemporaries feel a part of Russian historical and cultural tradition. The next objective of the Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral and Museum is to restore the former status of a historical memorial.