Smolny Convent

Coordinates: 59°56′55″N 30°23′42″E / 59.94861°N 30.39500°E / 59.94861; 30.39500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Aerial view of Smolny Convent

Smolny Convent or Smolny Convent of the Resurrection (Voskresensky,

River Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia, consists of a cathedral (sobor) and a complex of buildings surrounding it, originally planned as a convent.[1]

History

This

royal guards
in 1741). Elizabeth decided against entering monastic life and accepted the offer of the Russian throne. Work on the convent continued with her royal patronage.
[2]

Smolny Cathedral (Sobor)

The convent's main church (

Grand Palace in Peterhof
and many other major St. Petersburg landmarks. [3]

The Cathedral is the centerpiece of the convent, built by Rastrelli between 1748 and 1764. The projected bell-tower was to become the tallest building in St. Petersburg and, at the time, all of Russia. Elizabeth's death in 1762 prevented Rastrelli from completing this grand design.

The smaller bell tower

When

Righteous Elizabeth
.

The church was closed by the Soviet authorities in 1923. It was looted and allowed to decay until 1982, when it became a concert hall.[3]

The faculties of sociology, political science and international relations of the Saint Petersburg State University are located in some of the buildings surrounding the cathedral.

In April 2015 Smolny Cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and is now an active Orthodox church, the Divine Liturgy is held daily.[4]

The nearby Smolny Institute is named after the convent.

The name "Smolny" derives from the location. In the early days of St. Petersburg the place at the edge of the city where pitch ("smola" in Russian) was processed for use in shipbuilding and maintenance. As a result, the locale was called "smolny" - the place of pitch.

  • Opened model of The Smolny Cathedral
    Opened model of The Smolny Cathedral
  • Model of The Smolny Convent
    Model of The Smolny Convent

References

  1. ^ "Smolny". Voice of Russia. 2003. Archived from the original on April 12, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ a b "Cathedral of the Smolny Convent". Archilogy.com. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  4. ^ "Historic cathedral returned to Russian Orthodox Church | A Russian Orthodox Church Website".

59°56′55″N 30°23′42″E / 59.94861°N 30.39500°E / 59.94861; 30.39500