Location:
Nikolskaya ploshchad 1/3
Tel. 714- 7085
Metro: Sennaya
Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas or simply known as Sailors' Cathedral stands on the shores of Kryukov Canal. First wooden church was erected here in 1743. At the time it was an area where sailors and navy officers lived and since Saint Nicholas was considered to be a protector of fishermen and sailors it was logical choice to build a cathedral in his honor. Stone Cathedral of Saint Nicholas was constructed in 1753- 62 during reign of Empress Elizabeth and the project was supervised by admiralty architect Savva Chevakinsky.
The main relic of Saint Nicholas Cathedral is an old Greek icon of Saint Nicholas (17th century) with a part of his bone. It is situated in the lower church. In 1875 merchant Hosea Tupikov bought small part of land adjacent to the church and opened a public park. In 1908 a monument was erected dedicated to the officers and sailors who died at he disastrous battle of Tsushima on 15 May 1905 on the battleship "Emperor Alexander III". Since then Saint Nicholas Cathedral became a place of remembrance of sailors who died during Russian- Japanese War of 1904- 05. Memorial plaques that you might see here are dedicated to them.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral is still open to Eastern Orthodox service. In 2000 another memorial plate was added in dedication to sailors and officers who died aboard of submarine "Kursk".