The chapel of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is the building of the Sacristy of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Savior on Blood), which is located across the street from the chapel.
Today, the sacristy is a chapel-museum.
The sacristy was built in 1906-1907 by architect Alfred Alexandrovich Parland.
The idea of erecting a separate building of the sacristy, next to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, arose due to the fact that various donations were received from all over Russia for the construction of the church in memory of Emperor Alexander II, including picturesque icons and church utensils, which they wanted to put on display to everyone, but there was not enough space for this in the church itself.
So the building of the chapel-museum, as it was called at the beginning of the 20th century, which, together with the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, is a single architectural ensemble. Read more about the Church of the Savior on Blood…
Chapel-museum
Saved on Blood
The building of the chapel-museum was divided into two zones:
- the chapel itself, consecrated in 1908 in the name of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, where there was a list (copy) of the icon. The original icon is kept in the Iversky Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece;
- a museum that occupied the rest of the building and was separated from the chapel by a wall. A special place in the museum was occupied by the memorial part, where there were the imperial crown, bells, a circle for collecting donations and a portrait of Emperor Alexander II in a frame of flowers.
Since the 1930s, the chapel building has been used for other purposes. The interior and some elements of the facade decoration were completely lost, and instead of the monogram of Jesus Christ, a spire appeared on the dome.
In the early 1970s, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, together with the chapel-museum, became part of the State Museum-Monument "St. Isaac's Cathedral".
Currently, the chapel-museum hosts exhibitions.
The chapel-museum is a rectangular building topped by a large dome, which is an octagon in the plan. The completion of the dome resembles a tent, which is crowned with a chrysanthemum, which represents the Greek letters "chi", "ro"," alpha "and" omega", inscribed in a circle.
The chapel is surrounded by a fence, made in a similar way to the one that separates the Savior on Blood from Mikhailovsky garden.
Within the walls of the chapel there is a permanent exhibition, and exhibitions are held, items for which are taken from the funds of the State Museum-Monument "St. Isaac's Cathedral".
At the entrance to the chapel-museum there is a list of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
The museum exhibits items of artistic and memorial significance: icons, paintings, trays, crosses, the gospel, elements of the cathedral, etc.
Among the exhibits there are objects not only historical, but also modern: commemorative medals made by order of the museum for anniversaries; porcelain products, which depict St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Savior on Spilled Blood.
A special place in the chapel-museum is occupied by the model of St. Isaac's Cathedral, made in 2009-2010 by A. M. Krylov and consisting of amber, wood, bone, gilded bronze and velvet.
Facing of the entrance south-western doors of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (Savior on Spilled Blood), 1905-1907.
Panel for the royal gate of the Savior on Blood, working sample, 2010.
The Gospel on the altar. Seal - 1774, salary-1872; master unknown.
Practical information
The chapel-Museum and the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (The Savior on Spilled Blood) are memorials and museums that are part of the state museum-monument "St. Isaac's Cathedral".
A visit to the chapel-museum and the Savior on Spilled Blood is possible for a fee, a ticket to each of the museums is paid separately.
We recommend that you check the opening hours of the chapel-museum, the exhibitions held and the cost of tickets before visiting the museum's website: cathedral.
Address of the chapel-museum: Griboyedov Canal embankment, 2a, litera L.
In addition to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and the chapel-museum, the state museum-monument "St. Isaac's Cathedral" also includes: St. Isaac's Cathedral and the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral - an observation deck.
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and more remote from it, can be viewed and booked here
