Trinity Cathedral

Trinity Cathedral in St. Petersburg was the regimental church of the oldest regiments in the Russian Army, the Izmailovsky regiment. During the reign of Empress Anne, the Izmailovsky regiment moved from their village Izmailovo near Moscow to St. Petersburg with the Imperial court.

A large field tent, with icons painted on a dark blue satin, was erected in St. Petersburg and consecrated as a church on 12th July 1733. It was only possible to use the tent as church during the summer months, with the soldiers having to attend St. Petersburg's parish churches during the winter. Empress Elizabeth ordered the construction of a wooden church, built in 1754 - 1756. The main altar of this church was consecrated in the name of the Trinity. During the flood of 1824 the church suffered heavy damage and had to be re-built.

Nicholas I commissioned architect Vasily Stasov, and construction of the church began in May 1828. Construction work was hampered by several accidents, but the church was finally consecrated in May 1835. The cathedral dominates the surrounding area with its domes rising 80 meters.

Mounted on the cathedral's walls are memorial plaques to regiment officers killed in battle. Trophies won in battle from 1854-1855 and 1877-1878, including flags and keys to forts were housed in the cathedral.

Trinity Cathedral housed an excellent collection of icons. The Nativity icon was housed in the main section of the cathedral, with the southern section housing the Jesus Christ icon. In 1742, Empress Elizabeth presented the cathedral with the Beginning of Life Trinity icon. In 1753 a large silver ark was given to the church, and in 1853 Nicholas I presented a large silver cross and two large Gospels in valuable bindings.

Most of the cathedral's valuables were looted in 1922, and with thievery continuing for several years, the cathedral finally closed in 1938. The cathedral became a warehouse for the Soviet ministry of Telecommunications after the rumored demolition plans that never came true. Restoration began in 1990 after the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Although the interior is largely bare compared to its majestic pre-Revolutionary days, the cathedral is open and functioning.

On the 25th August 2006, a fire broke out destroying the main dome, one of the four smaller domes and the interior. Firefighters battled to save the other three smaller domes, whilst emergency workers and church employees removed icons and other religious articles. The Governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matviyenko has pledged to restore the cathedral within the shortest possible time, pledging $1.12 million for the first year.