Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Saint-Petersburg and the Concept of National Revival in the Late XIX Century Russian Architecture

Abstract

The Russian Revival style occupied a prominent place in the architecture of the XIX century Russia. The style had gone through several stages in its development. In the early 1880s followers of the Russian Revival turned their attention to the heritage of Moscow and Yaroslavl architecture of the XVII century. On this historical basis the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Church of the Savior on Blood) was designed and built at the site of the murder of Emperor Alexander II. The author of the Cathedral, architect Alfred Parland, consistently implemented the concept of national revival suggesting continuation of the original style of the XVII century Russian architecture. Keywords—Russian style; national revival; Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ; the architect Alfred Parland