St Isaac's Cathedral
St Isaac's Cathedral is an orthodox building in Saint Petersburg that stands out for its neoclassical style and its large scale.
About this building
The Cathedral was commissioned by Tsar Alexander I and its construction was completed between 1818 and 1858. Auguste Montferrand, a French architect, was in charge of its design, giving it a neoclassical style. It was the fourth consecutive church to stand on this site.
The Cathedral is 105 metres large and 93 metres width, which makes it one of the largest religious buildings in Europe. Due to the building's dimensions, the dome was painted gray during World War II to avoid drawing the attention of enemy aircraft.
Since 1931 the Cathedral functions as a museum dedicated to religion and the history of the building. It only hosts services on special occasions.