This week in Christian history: Lutherans attempt unity with the Orthodox Church; Philip Neri dies

Cathedral of Saint Isaac consecrated – May 30, 1858

This week marks the anniversary of the consecration of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, for a time one of the largest cathedrals in the world.

Named after a fourth-century Byzantine monk whose feast day was May 30, construction began in 1818 and lasted 40 years. It was built on the site of an earlier church.

After the Russian Revolution, the communist government turned the cathedral into a museum, with services not being held at the sanctuary until 1990, just before the fall of the Soviet Union.

According to St. Petersburg Guided Tours, upon its consecration, St. Isaac’s “became the main cathedral for the city” and remains “one of the symbols of St. Petersburg.”

“During WWII, the interior of the cathedral was damaged, but has been completely restored,” explained the tour website. “However, on some columns outside, you can see the traces of the bombardments that occurred during WWII.”

“Today St. Isaac`s cathedral is one of the most visited museums in the city.”