Alexander Nevsky Lavra
One of the oldest architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, was founded in 1710 on the site near the Neva, where, according to legend, the most important battle with the Swedes took place, which determined the victory of Russia.
Address:
St. Petersburg, emb. R. Monastyrki, 1
Telephone:
+7(812)274-17-02
Construction of the monastery continued intermittently throughout almost the entire 18th century and was completed only by 1790.
Several architects changed during the construction period, but the main idea of D. Trezzini, who conceived the monastery complex as a residence, institution and palace combined, was preserved. The most talented architects of their time worked on the creation of one of the largest architectural ensembles of the city: D. Trezzini, T. Schwertfeger, M. Zemtsov, L. Pustoshkin, F. Korolev, A. Myshetsky, P. Eropkin, M. Rastorguev, I. Starov and other. The compositional center of the Lavra is the Trinity Cathedral, built by the architect Starov.
The completion of construction and consecration of the temple in August 1790 completed the formation of the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The cathedral is crowned with a dome on a high drum, and its laconic monumental forms are in harmony with the monastery buildings. Among the icons of the cathedral, the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker is especially revered. In 1724, the ashes of Prince Alexander Nevsky, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, were transferred to the monastery.
By the end of the 18th century, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, which was given the status of a monastery in 1797, became the spiritual and cultural center of St. Petersburg.
The Alexander Nevsky Lavra was patronized by all Russian sovereigns and empresses. Even under Peter the Great, a hospital, an almshouse, a printing house and a school for the children of clergy were established at the monastery. This school subsequently received the status of a theological seminary, and then a Theological Academy, which trained clergy for the most important Orthodox churches in Russia. The significance of the Lavra in the life of St. Petersburg and the whole country can be well imagined if we recall the fact that before the revolution in Russia there were only four monasteries of this level. Since its founding, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra has been the first most important tomb of imperial Russia.
Members of the royal family, clergy, outstanding statesmen, and generals were buried here. Among them are Suvorov, Bezborodko, Quarenghi, Voronikhin, Rossi and many others. After the October Revolution of 1917, the monastery was abolished, its churches were closed, and countless relics and works of art were transferred to the Russian Museum, the State Hermitage and other museums in St. Petersburg.
In 1936-1937, a museum was created on the territory of the monastery - the Leningrad Necropolis, which in 1939 was reorganized into the Museum of Urban Sculpture. The Holy Trinity Cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1956, and in 1987 the St. Nicholas Cemetery Church was opened. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 12 churches on the territory of the monastery, currently only two. The revival of monastic life took place in the fall of 1996, and today the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is a functioning monastery of the St. Petersburg diocese.
Several architects changed during the construction period, but the main idea of D. Trezzini, who conceived the monastery complex as a residence, institution and palace combined, was preserved. The most talented architects of their time worked on the creation of one of the largest architectural ensembles of the city: D. Trezzini, T. Schwertfeger, M. Zemtsov, L. Pustoshkin, F. Korolev, A. Myshetsky, P. Eropkin, M. Rastorguev, I. Starov and other. The compositional center of the Lavra is the Trinity Cathedral, built by the architect Starov.
The completion of construction and consecration of the temple in August 1790 completed the formation of the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The cathedral is crowned with a dome on a high drum, and its laconic monumental forms are in harmony with the monastery buildings. Among the icons of the cathedral, the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker is especially revered. In 1724, the ashes of Prince Alexander Nevsky, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, were transferred to the monastery.
By the end of the 18th century, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, which was given the status of a monastery in 1797, became the spiritual and cultural center of St. Petersburg.
The Alexander Nevsky Lavra was patronized by all Russian sovereigns and empresses. Even under Peter the Great, a hospital, an almshouse, a printing house and a school for the children of clergy were established at the monastery. This school subsequently received the status of a theological seminary, and then a Theological Academy, which trained clergy for the most important Orthodox churches in Russia. The significance of the Lavra in the life of St. Petersburg and the whole country can be well imagined if we recall the fact that before the revolution in Russia there were only four monasteries of this level. Since its founding, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra has been the first most important tomb of imperial Russia.
Members of the royal family, clergy, outstanding statesmen, and generals were buried here. Among them are Suvorov, Bezborodko, Quarenghi, Voronikhin, Rossi and many others. After the October Revolution of 1917, the monastery was abolished, its churches were closed, and countless relics and works of art were transferred to the Russian Museum, the State Hermitage and other museums in St. Petersburg.
In 1936-1937, a museum was created on the territory of the monastery - the Leningrad Necropolis, which in 1939 was reorganized into the Museum of Urban Sculpture. The Holy Trinity Cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1956, and in 1987 the St. Nicholas Cemetery Church was opened. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 12 churches on the territory of the monastery, currently only two. The revival of monastic life took place in the fall of 1996, and today the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is a functioning monastery of the St. Petersburg diocese.
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