Armenian Church of St. Catherine

Armenian artisans and merchants appeared on the Neva banks immediately after the founding of St. Petersburg, which was written attested already in 1708. The first head of the St. Petersburg Armenian community, Luka Shirvanov, asked Empress Anna Ioannovna for permission to build a church in the courtyard of his house. Which the Empress gave the go-ahead to. However, the church was not completed. Under Catherine II, places were allocated for non-religious churches. The Armenian Church is located on Nevsky Prospekt, where a whole ensemble of buildings and temples of the Armenian community was formed.

The Church of St. Catherine was built in the traditions of Russian classicism, very elegant and corresponds to the ceremonial appearance of the capital. The church is crowned with a dome, and on the facade from the side of Nevsky Prospekt there is a sculptural relief - a plot from the history of Armenia - the baptism of the ruler Trdat III. The interior of the temple is incredibly spacious and bright. Arches, columns, monumental painting: everything is flooded with bright light.

In 1780, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Joseph of Argutin, thanking the Russian country.

In 1865, bells were installed in the belfry of the temple for the first time. In the 1920s, the church was empty and used as a warehouse. But in 1992, Bishop Yerzas of the Apostolic Armenian Church restored the church to life.

After the restoration in 2000, the church was illuminated by the Patriarch of All Russia and the Patriarch of All Armenians. To this day, the Armenian Church of St. Catherine is open to parishioners.