Church of Catherine Palace, Palace church in Pushkin, Russia

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ at Catherine Palace is a palace chapel in the northern wing, its facade on Sadovaya Street designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli with a two-tier colonnade, heavier on the lower floors and lighter above. Five gilded domes crown the wing, though a single dome was first planned until Empress Elizabeth ordered five in October 1746. Inside, the space is divided into altar, nave, choir and areas beneath the choir.

Architect Savva Chevakinsky designed this chapel in 1746, with construction finished in 1756 during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in Elizabethan Baroque style. The completion coincided with significant renovations and expansions of the palace that continued throughout the 18th century.

This chapel served as the religious center of the imperial family for more than two centuries, where the court gathered for baptisms and weddings. Visitors today can see the valuable religious objects and ornate furnishings that show how important these spaces were to the dynasty.

Access to this chapel is only available as part of a tour of the entire palace, so plan to spend time exploring the broader complex. Entry tickets are purchased at the Sadovaya Street entrance and provide access to this space along with many other rooms throughout the site.

The chapel's iconostasis was transferred to the Catherine Palace museum in 1930 and was lost during the occupation of Pushkin in World War II; the throne had probably disappeared earlier. The interior was looted when the church served as a garage, the roof was pierced and the domes were riddled with bullets.