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- Nikolskaya (Nicholas ) Square
- 1753-62. Architect S.Chevakinsky
-
- The five-domed two-story cathedral decorated
- with clusters of columns and numerous
- sculptures placed on high pedestals, is one of the
- best architectural monuments of Petersburg.Into
- the decorative design of the facades Chevakinsky
- introduced a new motif never used by his
- contemporaries and borrowed from old Russian
- architecture: all protruding corners of the
- building are provided with three-column clusters,
- the central column set at the very corner,
- contrary to all architectural canons. The wide
- expressive entembleture belt also serves the
- same purpose-to enhance the decorative effect
- of the facades. In decorating the interior of the
- lower and upper churches Chevakinsky
- manifested exceptional capabilities and
- inventiveness. Architecturally he was most
- successful in designing the upper church; it is full
- of air and light and is remarkable for the
- iconostasis which is perfectly designed and
- carved, as well as for the canopy over the altar.
-