| CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD |
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The CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD (Russian: Храм Спаса на Крови, pronounced “Khram Spasa na Krovi”) built from 1883-1907 and also known under several other names, the most popular of which is the Church on Spilt Blood, is dedicated to the memory of Tsar Alexander II. The medieval Russian architecture with a twist of Romantic nationalism, untypical of the city, makes it stand out from the Baroque and Neoclassical styles, predominantly used in the city’s structures. The church was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was mortally wounded in 1881 by a grenade explosion while he was passing by in his carriage. The church was closed and used for storing dead bodies during the time of the Siege of Leningrad. The church was seriously damaged and closed for a 30 year restoration before it was reopened in 1997. Nowadays the church is known as the largest Museum of Mosaic with over 7500 square meters of mosaic. |
