Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle in Gatchina

The Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle is the main cathedral of Gatchina. It is located on the top of a gentle hill. The cathedral was founded in the neo-Byzantine style in 1846, and its construction was completed in 1852. It is located in the center of Gatchina and has remained unchanged to this day.  

In the time of Paul I, the Great Gatchina Palace was a country estate. However, by the beginning of the 19th century Gatchina began to develop actively as a city. In 1823, a small Church of St. Paul the Apostle was built here. By the middle of the 19th century, it became necessary to build a large cathedral.  

Emperor Nicholas I took a personal part in choosing the site and approving the project, as he wanted to build a cathedral in honor of his father Paul I and mother Maria Feodorovna. Paul I was assassinated in 1801. Nicholas I decided to build a large cathedral in Gatchina, which his father loved very much, for the 50th anniversary of this tragic event. In 1851, he also erected a monument to Paul I in front of the Great Gatchina Palace. 

The project of the cathedral was prepared by architect Roman Kuzmin with the participation of the famous architect Konstantin Ton. The cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Apostle Paul and St. Mary Magdalene. These are the patron saints of his father Paul and his mother Mary. Nowadays, the temple is located inside a small square, and in the middle of the 19th century it was one of the city`s dominants. Photos and postcards of the 19th century have been preserved, where the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle is visible at the intersection of streets on a hill.