St. Sampson Cathedral

source: pionertur.ru

This church is by right considered to be the landmark of St. Petersburg because it is one of the few architectural works belonging to the first half of the18th century. Its construction was preceded by happy event, the victory of Russia over Sweden in the Battle of Poltava. Tsar Peter I himself commanded to build a wooden church to commemorate the great victory in the end of 1709. And because the Swedes were defeated on Jun 27, 1709 on the day of Reverend Sampson the Hospitable, the church was given his name.

The uniqueness of St. Sampson is in mixing pre-Peter era architectural forms and the elements of European architecture. The main attraction of the temple is the carved gilded iconostasis executed in the best traditions of Russian wooden plastic and carving characteristic of the first half of the 18th century. On the walls of the cathedral’s bell-tower you can see the iron plates containing with the texts of speeches and orders of Peter I before and after the Battle of Poltava.