🚩 St. Petersburg | Kazan Cathedral Visit Guide

📍 Kazan Cathedral, located on Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg, was designed by Russian architect Voronikhin. Construction began in August 1801 and took 10 years to complete, finishing in 1811 on the eve of the Russo-French War initiated by Napoleon. In front of the cathedral's colonnade stand the sculptures of Marshal Kutuzov, known as the god of war, and the Minister of War Barclay de Tolly. 📍 Inside the Kazan Cathedral, the ashes of the famous Russian Marshal Kutuzov are interred, with the tomb flanked by the city flags and keys of the cities he captured during the Russo-French War. 📍 The Kazan Cathedral is named after the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Russians believe that the Kazan Icon has worked miracles on several occasions. The first miracle occurred during the Mongol invasions in the time of Ivan the Terrible, causing the Mongol army to retreat without a fight. The second miracle happened during the Russo-French War when Kutuzov prayed at the Kazan Cathedral before the counteroffensive; the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream, foretelling an unprecedented cold wave that would freeze half of Napoleon's troops, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness. The third miracle occurred during World War II when the Orthodox Patriarch prayed to the Kazan Icon; the Virgin Mary once again appeared in a dream, promising a second cold wave that would immobilize many German tanks and render their weapons unusable due to the cold on the battlefield. Russians believe that whenever Russia faces danger, the Kazan Icon will perform a miracle to protect the country. 🚩 Opposite the cathedral, there is a century-old bookstore that is also a great place to visit and take photos. 📍 The Kazan Cathedral is open for free from 10:00 to 18:00. #Russia #RussianTourism #Travel #TravelGuide #FreeAndEasyTravel