St. Petersburg, Russia in 2008 – St. Isaac’s Cathedral
Jan 20, 2021 00:41:41 #
St. Petersburg, Russia in 2008 – St. Isaac’s Cathedral
In 2008 I took a cruise of the Baltic Sea, and one of the ports of call was St. Petersburg, Russia. Our tour group visited St. Isaac’s Cathedral, built in 1858 and dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. Originally the main Russian Orthodox church in the city, in 1931 it was changed into a museum, a status it has kept to this day, although services are occasionally performed in part of the facility. The neoclassical exterior expresses the traditional Russian-Byzantine formula of a Greek-cross ground plan with a large central dome and four subsidiary domes. Its design, particularly that of the dome, influenced the design of the United States Capitol dome.
Exterior views
Baltic2008_867 by David Casteel, on Flickr (sorry for the reflection – this is the best I have of the whole church)
Baltic2008_873 by David Casteel, on Flickr (entrance doors, similar to those on the Baptistry in Florence, Italy)
Baltic2008_874 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail above the doorway)
Interior views
Baltic2008_875 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view toward the Iconostasis)
Baltic2008_904 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view approaching the Iconostasis)
Baltic2008_912 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Iconostasis, with Altar beyond)
Baltic2008_918 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Altar, and Christ window)
Spilt blood pano-2 by David Casteel, on Flickr (general view of interior)
Baltic2008_888 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the arch paintings)
Baltic2008_913 by David Casteel, on Flickr (another arch painting)
Baltic2008_911 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the dome – note the white dove suspended from the center)
Baltic2008_919 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view toward the entrance)
Baltic2008_914 by David Casteel, on Flickr (mosaic of Christ)
Baltic2008_922 by David Casteel, on Flickr
Baltic2008_921-1 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a large painting, processed to give a straight-on view)
Baltic2008_920 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Pulpit)
In 2008 I took a cruise of the Baltic Sea, and one of the ports of call was St. Petersburg, Russia. Our tour group visited St. Isaac’s Cathedral, built in 1858 and dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great. Originally the main Russian Orthodox church in the city, in 1931 it was changed into a museum, a status it has kept to this day, although services are occasionally performed in part of the facility. The neoclassical exterior expresses the traditional Russian-Byzantine formula of a Greek-cross ground plan with a large central dome and four subsidiary domes. Its design, particularly that of the dome, influenced the design of the United States Capitol dome.
Exterior views
Baltic2008_867 by David Casteel, on Flickr (sorry for the reflection – this is the best I have of the whole church)
Baltic2008_873 by David Casteel, on Flickr (entrance doors, similar to those on the Baptistry in Florence, Italy)
Baltic2008_874 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail above the doorway)
Interior views
Baltic2008_875 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view toward the Iconostasis)
Baltic2008_904 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view approaching the Iconostasis)
Baltic2008_912 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Iconostasis, with Altar beyond)
Baltic2008_918 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Altar, and Christ window)
Spilt blood pano-2 by David Casteel, on Flickr (general view of interior)
Baltic2008_888 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the arch paintings)
Baltic2008_913 by David Casteel, on Flickr (another arch painting)
Baltic2008_911 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the dome – note the white dove suspended from the center)
Baltic2008_919 by David Casteel, on Flickr (view toward the entrance)
Baltic2008_914 by David Casteel, on Flickr (mosaic of Christ)
Baltic2008_922 by David Casteel, on Flickr
Baltic2008_921-1 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a large painting, processed to give a straight-on view)
Baltic2008_920 by David Casteel, on Flickr (the Pulpit)
Jan 20, 2021 05:46:54 #
Jan 20, 2021 06:05:33 #
It has always amazed me the expense and labor that people go to in order to build a house for God, yet all he wanted was a tent.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
Jan 20, 2021 06:15:53 #
Don W-37
Loc: Bangkok, Thailand
David,
Another very beautiful set. The general view of the interior shows how big it really is. Well done, thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Don
Another very beautiful set. The general view of the interior shows how big it really is. Well done, thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Don
Jan 20, 2021 11:39:31 #
Jan 20, 2021 11:52:08 #
IDguy
Loc: Idaho
Headed there in June. Thanks for the inspiration.
Reflection should be easy to fix in photoshop. If you want help you could post in post processing forum.
Reflection should be easy to fix in photoshop. If you want help you could post in post processing forum.
Jan 20, 2021 16:48:36 #
Slept late today – now catching up.
MSW, thanks for your nice comment. You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
DAN, I agree. I don’t think of churches as houses for God, because He is everywhere. I think of them as places we gather to thank and worship Him – we make them beautiful to inspire and make us reverent. Thanks for your appreciation.
Don, I appreciate your nice comment – thanks. That “general view” is a panorama built from 9 other photos. You’re welcome – I like to share.
NMGal, I agree. Thanks for coming.
IDGuy, I’m sure you will enjoy the experience. You’re welcome – I’m happy to inspire. While there, you should also visit the Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood (I’ve also just posted a set on that church https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-682296-1.html ). I do have Photoshop, but I’ve never used it. I do my PP with Lightroom. Thanks for the recommendation.
MSW, thanks for your nice comment. You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
DAN, I agree. I don’t think of churches as houses for God, because He is everywhere. I think of them as places we gather to thank and worship Him – we make them beautiful to inspire and make us reverent. Thanks for your appreciation.
Don, I appreciate your nice comment – thanks. That “general view” is a panorama built from 9 other photos. You’re welcome – I like to share.
NMGal, I agree. Thanks for coming.
IDGuy, I’m sure you will enjoy the experience. You’re welcome – I’m happy to inspire. While there, you should also visit the Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood (I’ve also just posted a set on that church https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-682296-1.html ). I do have Photoshop, but I’ve never used it. I do my PP with Lightroom. Thanks for the recommendation.
Jan 20, 2021 19:39:46 #
Awesome shots of an exquisite, incomparable place of worship 
Jan 20, 2021 20:57:44 #
joecichjr wrote:
Thanks, Joe! It is an incredible place.Awesome shots of an exquisite, incomparable place of worship
Jan 21, 2021 05:26:47 #
Jan 21, 2021 05:41:23 #
J-SPEIGHT wrote:
Thank you very much. They built it--I just took pictures.Beautiful
Jan 21, 2021 07:05:20 #
Jan 21, 2021 08:04:40 #
DAN Phillips wrote:
It has always amazed me the expense and labor that people go to in order to build a house for God, yet all he wanted was a tent.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
They certainly are impressive and astonishing in the minute details, but any lovely place in the woods was always "church" for me.
Jan 21, 2021 08:16:10 #
Jan 21, 2021 10:00:44 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
DAN Phillips wrote:
It has always amazed me the expense and labor that people go to in order to build a house for God, yet all he wanted was a tent.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
2 Samuel 7:6 "Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle."
Beautiful pictures, David.
My sentiments exactly. I do believe these fantastical religious monuments are more to satisfy the egos and craving for wealth and status by the clergy than to show the populace’s depth of faith and love for God. And it still goes on today in the Mega-Church’s that have appeared in recent decades and the televangelists’ using the prosperity gospel to fleece the devoted flock in the name of God while enriching themselves.
BTW, nice images, David!
Stan
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