Church on the spilled blood

Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood which is also known as the Church of the Resurrection of Christ is situated in the centre of the city.

Designed be the Russian architect of English descent, Alfred Parland, the church was built on the order of Alexander III, between 1883 and 1907 in memory of his father.

The reference to blood is a reminder that members of the revolutionary People`s Will group murdered Alexander II on this spot in a terrorist bomb attack on 1 March 1881; the exposition tore the tsar`s legs off and left him bleeding to death.

The church was paid for by the imperial family and other private donors. Construction, however, dragged on for almost 24 years due to a member of the tsar`s family embezzling the funds.

The exterior is embellished by nearly 7000 sq. metres of mosaic portraits of the saints, while the central mosaic depicts scenes from the Old Testament.

The interior of the church is entirely covered by mosaics based on paintings by famous Russian and religious artists.