Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Cathedral of St. Peter and PaulSlide2

The most notable building in the fortress is the

Peter and Paul Cathedral. Its golden spire became the symbol of our city. Slide3

First, a small wooden church

was built in the center of the unfinished fortress in 1703, this church

was dedicated

to

the Apostles Peter and Paul.Slide4

Then in 1712 the

construction of a stone building in place of wooden church began. But the Cathedral of St.Peter and Paul was built in

17

33

by the Italian architect Domenico

Tresini who had come to work in Russia at the invitation of Peter I. Slide5

The architectural style of this cathedral is a combination of different traditions and European styles. The cathedral is

122 m high. It was the tallest building in St. Petersburg before the television tower

300 m

high) was erected.Slide6

The building is dominated by a tall bell tower with a spire.

The spire is crowned with a weather-vane in the spire of an angel carrying a cross (it is 3 meters high with a wing span of 4 meters).Slide7

The clock of Dutch make chimes the Anthem of the city at noon, at midnight, at 6 a.m. and p.m.Slide8

At first the spire was made of wood and then in

1858 it was replaced with metal and covered with golden plates. Always the repair work on the spire needed courage besides skill.Slide9

The feat performed by

Pyotr

Telushkin

(a roofer) is widely known. He managed to climb to the top of the spire using only a rope and no scaffolding and repaired the damaged cross.Slide10

During

World War II, when Leningrad was surrounded by enemy’s troops, the spire was camouflaged (as well as others spires and domes of the city). It was painted gray by sportsmen mountain-climbers.Slide11

The interior of the cathedral differs much from that of the Russian churches. According to the old tradition churches were usually cross-shaped while this cathedral is shaped as an

elongated rectangle.Slide12

There is a marble imitation on the walls and pillars which uphold the vault while ancient churches were decorated with frescoes.Slide13

A lot of famous Russian artists, sculptors, wood and stone carvers, gilders participated in the construction and decoration of the cathedral. The design was made by the talented Moscow architect

Ivan

ZarudnySlide14

The icon stand (iconostasis) is an unique example of Russian folk craftsmanship.

43 icons of the icon stand were painted by a group of Moscow artists. Slide15

The icon stand is made

of gilded wood. Most of icons depict biblical kings and patron-saints of the imperial family.Slide16

More than a century this cathedral was the main cathedral in Russia and because of that it had a

pulpit. This was the first cathedral in Russia with a pulpit which is usually an attribute of a Catholic church.Slide17

The pulpit is decorated with four carved figures of the evangelists and two carved and gilded sculptures of

St.Peter and Paul.Slide18

All Russians tsars beginning from Peter I ( all in all 8 tsars and tsarinas, their children and grandchildren) were buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral.Slide19

There are no tombs of

Peter II (he died in Moscow and was buried there) and

Ivon

VI

(he was 12 months old when he was imprisoned in the

Schlisselburg

fortress and was killed by the guards at the attempt to liberate him. He spent 23 years in prison).Slide20

At

present the cathedral is open for visitors as a museum. And services are held in the cathedral sometimes too.