The Resurrection Church of Our Saviour is one of the most ornate and beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg, and perhaps the whole of Russia. On a sunny day its decorative exterior, rich in gold and enamels, captures the sunshine and releases it in a riot of luminous colour.
The Resurrection Church of Our Saviour, also known as the Church on Spilled Blood, from the Moyka River
Sad to think, then, that it actually commemorates a horrific murder that took place on this spot in 1881.
In March of that year, Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in the centre of St. Petersburg by a revolutionary’s bomb. The Emperor actually survived the initial part of the attack unhurt, secure within his bullet-proof carriage. Yet thinking the danger had passed, he left the safety of the carriage to inspect the damage caused by the first device, only to have his body shattered by a subsequent bomb.
Looking along the Griboyedov Canal Embankment
Little wonder the building constructed as a memorial by his heir, Alexander III, is more commonly known as the Church on Spilled Blood.
The Church on Spilled Blood in all its opulent glory
The jumble of towers and domes, with no two appearing the same, is undoubtedly what first catches the eye.
But look closer and you’ll see the attention to detail doesn’t stop there.
And if anything, the interior is even more ornate, although sadly we didn’t have time to go inside.
The Church on Spilled Blood is one of countless treasures that combine to form the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to Yana Kazakova, our marvelous guide arranged through Guide Guru, for introducing us to it.
This post was inspired by this week’s photo challenges of Ornate from Ben of The Daily Post and Luminous from Ailsa of Where’s My Backpack?
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Wonderful Post.
Thanks very much, Mukul!
welcome
OMG! This is amazing! I have never seen anything else like it. Even the tiles have been placed in a decorative pattern.
The attention to detail is definitely stunning, Amanda.
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I love this church. You got some great pics of it. I only have one 😦
I guess that means you’ve at least seen it with your own eyes, Mani, which is a lot more than most people 😀
Marvelous shots and thanks for the history behind the view.
My pleasure, Joseph!
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