Church of the Savior on Blood Building

Address: Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Griboyedov Canal Embankment 2B, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Hours: Museum opening hours vary seasonally; check site before visiting

Admission: Entrance to the church/museum is ticketed

The Church of the Savior on Blood is a landmark Russian Orthodox church in St. Petersburg built as a memorial to Emperor Alexander II. Construction took place between 1883 and 1907, and the church is notable for its richly decorated exterior and interior mosaics.

The exterior presents ornate domes and patterned façades, while the interior is covered by mosaics that depict biblical scenes and ornamental designs across vast surfaces. The church functions primarily as a museum and visitor attraction rather than a large active parish church.

Commissioned following the assassination of Alexander II on the site, the church was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a historicist Russian style. It survived the 20th century through periods of closure and later conservation and restoration to preserve its decorative scheme.

Built along the Griboyedov Canal in central St. Petersburg, the church lies a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt and other central cultural sites, making it easily accessible to visitors exploring the city centre.

• Viewing tip: Allow time to study the interior mosaics, which are extensive and require low, even lighting for preservation.
• Location note: The church is in central St. Petersburg and is often visited on the same route as nearby Nevsky Prospekt and the State Russian Museum.

What to See#

• Interior mosaics: The church’s interior is almost entirely covered in mosaics created by dozens of artists, with a total area of decorative mosaics exceeding 7,500 square metres.
• Memorial church building: The main shrine building with its multicoloured onion domes and richly patterned exterior was built as a memorial on the precise site of a late 19th-century assassination.

The Church of the Savior on Blood is in central St. Petersburg on the Griboyedov Canal, a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt. From Nevsky Prospekt metro station it’s an easy 5-10 minute walk along Nevsky Prospekt and then along the canal to the church. The site is also walkable from many central points; if driving, follow the embankment roads along the canal and park in central city parking.

• Visit right at opening (usually morning) to avoid the large midday tour-bus crowds and to get unobstructed photos of the façade from the adjacent bridge over the Griboyedov Canal.
• For the classic wide-shot of the cathedral's domes and reflection, step onto the canal bridge opposite the church-many visitors only photograph from ground level beside the building.
• Allow time to go inside and study the interior mosaics; the scale and detail are the main attraction inside and are often missed by visitors who only view the exterior.