Summer Day On The Fontanka

View of the Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral from the Fontanka.
The enormous Classical dome of Trinity Cathedral is located just south from the gleaming Baroque cupolas of St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Trinity Cathedral is a fine example of Classical architecture built by Vasily Stasov. It can accommodate up to 3, 000 visitors,
but sadly has only recently begun to be restored to its pre-Revolutionary splendor, after years of neglect.

Trinity Cathedral was the regimental church of the Izmailovsky regiment, one of the oldest guards regiments in the Russian Army.
Named after the village of Izmailovo, near Moscow, the Izmailovsky regiment moved to Petersburg when the northern city
was re-established as the Russian capital under Empress Anne.

Unfortunately, in 1922 most of the cathedrals valuables were looted, and the thievery continued for several more years
ntil the cathedral was finally closed in 1938.

Only in 1990 did the cathedral return to the hands of the Russian Orthodox Church. when restoration began.

The cathedral is now open and functioning once again, although the largely bare, Spartan interior is
saddening when compared with the splendor and majesty of its pre-Revolutionary past.