Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn

{{For|other similarly named cathedrals|Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox church

| name = Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn

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| image = Catedral de Alejandro Nevsky, Tallin, Estonia, 2012-08-11, DD 46.JPG

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| caption = Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn.

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| location = Tallinn

| country = Estonia

| denomination = Eastern Orthodox Church

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The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of Tallinn{{efn|{{langx|et|Tallinna Neeva Vaga Õigeusulise Suurvürsti Aleksandri peakirik}}, {{langx|ru|Александро-Невский собор}}}} is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in central Tallinn, Estonia. It was built in 1894–1900,{{cite web|url=https://www.inyourpocket.com/tallinn/alexander-nevsky-cathedral_7039v|title=Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Sightseeing - Tallinn|website=www.inyourpocket.com}} when the country was part of the former Russian Empire. The cathedral is the city's largest cupola church. The late Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow (1929–2008) started his priestly ministry in the cathedral. It is the primary cathedral of the semi-autonomous Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Image:Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn - interior.JPG

History

The cathedral was built onto the Toompea hill in central Tallinn to a design by architect Mikhail Preobrazhensky in a typical Russian Revival style in 1894–1900. The church is dedicated to the grand prince of Kiev, and later Russian orthodox saint, Alexander Nevsky.

The cathedral is richly decorated and has eleven bells cast in Saint Petersburg, the largest of which weighs about 16 tons, more than the other ten combined. It has three altars, with the northern altar dedicated to Vladimir I and the southern to St. Sergius of Radonezh.

The base of the building is Finnish granite. In the five onion domes, gilded iron crosses are seen. Inside are three gilded, carved wooden iconostases, along with four icon boxes. The icons of the iconostasis and icon boxes were painted in Saint Petersburg on copper and zinc plates. The windows are decorated with stained glass.

The cathedral was built during the period of late 19th century Russification and has been disliked by many Estonians as a symbol of former Russian oppression.[https://et.history-hub.com/suurimad-oigeusu-katedraalid-maailmas Suurimad õigeusu katedraalid maailmas] – History-hub.com (in Estonian)[https://travelestonia.com/et/tallinn/aleksander-nevski-katedraal-tallinn/ Aleksander Nevski katedraal - Tallinn] – Travel Estonia (in Estonian)https://www.visittallinn.ee/eng/visitor/see-do/things-to-do/attractions-museums/307/st-alexander-nevsky-cathedral

During the 1944–1991 Soviet occupation of Estonia, as the Soviet regime was officially non-religious, many churches including the cathedral were left to fall into disrepair. The building and its interior have been meticulously restored since Estonia regained full independence in 1991.

Demolition Plans

After Estonia had become an independent country, the parliament and government, by the popular demand, had to discuss and consider removing the cathedral on multiple occasions in the 1920s and 1930s, however no final decision on the demolition of the building was ever made.

In 1924 Estonian architect Karl Burman proposed to demolish Cathedral or rebuild it to the Pantheon of Estonian Independence. The demolishing was planned on 1 May 1929 but was cancelled.[https://blogi.linnamuuseum.ee/пантеон-независимости-на-месте-собор// Пантеон независимости вместо собора Александра Невского. Борьба архитектурных памятников в свете идеологии 1920-х]

Since 2022, the issue of demolishing or relocating the Cathedral has been revived in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine - initially on social media and blogs{{Cite web |last=Nurmoja |first=Jaanus |date=2022-09-21 |title=Lukas eksis pisut: sibulakiriku kõrvaldamise küsimust on ikkagi tõstatatud ja õige varsti pärast 24. veebruari – PEEGELDAJA |url=https://jaanus.nurmoja.net.ee/25016/lukas-eksis-pisut-sibulakiriku-krvaldamise-ksimust-on-ikkagi-tstatatud-ja-ige-varsti-prast-24-veebruari/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |language=et}} - among others, Mario Kadastik, member of Estonian parliament from ruling Estonian Reform Party proposed to create a park in its place.{{Cite web|language=ru|url=https://rus.postimees.ee/7797169/deputaty-riygikogu-predlagayut-snesti-sobor-aleksandra-nevskogo|title=Депутаты Рийгикогу предлагают снести собор Александра Невского|website=Эстония|date=2023-06-16|access-date=2023-06-29|archive-date=2023-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629133808/https://rus.postimees.ee/7797169/deputaty-riygikogu-predlagayut-snesti-sobor-aleksandra-nevskogo|url-status=live}} - and later in media publications.

Gallery

Landscape view of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.JPG|right|View from the top viewing platform of St. Olaf's Church

Domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn.JPG|The cathedral domes

Aleksander Nevski katedraal ja Toompea loss 2003.jpg|Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Toompea Castle

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Tallinn.jpg|A mosaic for Alexander Nevsky

Estonia - Flickr - Jarvis-9.jpg|Image of Edessa

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Mosaic (2001).jpg|Our Lady of the Sign

Tallinn asv2022-04 img37 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.jpg|St. Nicholas

Tallinn asv2022-04 img36 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.jpg|Vsevolod I Yaroslavich and Isidore of Kyiv

Tallinn Alexander Nevski kathedraal 05.jpg|Sergius of Radonezh and Vladimir the Great

Notes

References

External links

[http://www.orthodox.ee/indexeng.php?d=parishes/aleks_e Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral's page in Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209020424/http://www.orthodox.ee/indexeng.php?d=parishes%2Faleks_e |date=2009-02-09 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20020902134541/http://www.estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?kateg=43&menyy_id=97&alam=61&leht=2 Estonica : History : Russification period]
[http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?s=3&sType=Rel&r=02fCathedrals+--+Estonia+--+Tallinn Aleksandro-Nevskii Cathedral], 1894