Saturday 1 August 2009

A Week of Cathedrals: 1 - St Petersburg


Postmarked St Petersburg, dated 20 July 2009.
The Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Our Saviour on the Spilt Blood) 1883-1907.  A. Parland.

The name of this building varies and it's sometimes known as the Church on the spilled Blood.  The reference to spilled blood is because it marks the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded in an assassination attempt in 1881.

The church officially became a cathedral in 1923 but was looted after the Revolution.  It was closed in 1932 and after World War II was used as a warehouse.  It was eventually reopened in 1997 after extensive restoration.

I have another card of the cathedral which I posted just over a year ago.  This one may show less but the shot is very attractive and complements the other well.  I must also add that the writer says "we have real summer now! It's very hot.  Finally!".  So that's what happened to our summer - it emigrated to Russia.  I want it back.

5 comments:

  1. Ooh, this is lovely, and a place I've wanted to go to for years.

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  2. Not to be picky, but since the Tsar-Liberator Alexander II was killed (assassinated), it wasn't an "attempt". Just sayin'.

    Aren't the gilt "onion domes" gorgeous? A hallmark of some Russian Orthodox churches. The construction boggles the mind today.

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  3. It's really like a postcard. love it.
    Cheers..

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  4. @Alison, it's on my to do list. All I have to do is persuade my husband that it's on his....

    @Max, you've heard of an unsuccessful attempt? This was a successful attempt. They made an attempt. It succeeded. QED.
    It's an amazing sight and one that I'd really, really like to see for myself.

    @Photo-vigor, it's lovely

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  5. I also have this postcard. Unwritten though. Written and stamped is better!

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Welcome to my postcard collection! I love hearing what you think of the cards - but spam WILL be deleted.

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