The Actual Fortress

Cathedral |
The magnificent Eastern Orthodox church is lined with gold especially by the altar. It is mind-boggling when you see the beauty of such structures to think of the cost to construct these places- in terms of money and also labor of the workers. The arched ceiling was even painted in beautiful detail.
The inside of the building is lined with the tombs of tzars of Russia from Peter I to Nicholas II. The tombs are lined side by side in the back of the church.
Peter the Great |
Peter the Great's tomb was in front of the cathedral at the base of a small golden altar. His son and Catherine the Great were next to him.
Nicholas II family burial chapel |
The last emperor, Nicholas II and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks after the Revolution of 1917. At the time, their bodies were buried in Siberia where they were murdered. In July, 1998 their remains were recovered and brought back to the cathedral to be buried in a special room off of the main church called "St. Catherine's Chapel." All of his children are also in this location.
We were happy to hear that during the Soviet era, the tombs were not moved or demolished. The cathedral is once again restored to its original beauty.
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