Marian devotion
Catedral de Smolny de San Petersburgo
Saint Petersburg, Russia
One of the masterpieces of the Russian Baroque, dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin.
The Smolny Cathedral was built between 1748 and 1764 by the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. It is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple. The complex includes a female monastery founded by Empress Isabel Petrovna.
Architecture and meaning
The cathedral combines the European Baroque with traditional Russian elements. Its blue and white domes are one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. The interior has a golden iconostasis with numerous Marian images.
Recent history
During the Soviet era, the cathedral was used as a warehouse. In 2009, it was returned to the Orthodox Church and restored. Today it is an important cultural and religious center of the city.
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