Russia - St. Petersburg 18

Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas
The golden Baroque spires and domes of St. Nicholas' Cathedral (known locally as the Sailors' Cathedral), is home to a number of revered 18th-century icons and a fine carved wooden iconostasis. Its beautiful bell tower overlooks Kryukov Canal.
The first church was built here in 1743, on the banks of Kryukov Canal.
The area was originally settled by sailors in the time of Peter the Great, and the first, wooden chapel was built for them and bore the name of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker. As the area grew along with the new capital, Empress Elizabeth issued a decree to build a stone church for the regiments living here.Construction of the new stone church began in 1753, and the main altar in the current cathedral was consecrated in 1760 in the presence of Empress Elizabeth.

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