Exaltation of Holy Cross cathedral in Petrozavodsk, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Petrozavodsk, Russia
The Exaltation of Holy Cross cathedral is a brick Orthodox church in Petrozavodsk, built in the Russian Revival style with rounded arches, decorative brickwork, and a bell tower. It stands inside Zaretskoye Cemetery, making it both a place of worship and part of a burial ground.
The cathedral was built in 1848 to serve the Orthodox community of Petrozavodsk at a time when the city was growing as a regional center. During World War II it was temporarily closed, then reopened and has remained active ever since.
The cathedral stands within an active cemetery and remains a working Orthodox church where services are held regularly. Visitors can observe the characteristic elements of Orthodox worship, such as icon screens, candles, and choral chanting.
The cathedral is located on Volkhovskaya Street inside Zaretskoye Cemetery and can be reached on foot from the city center. Since it is both an active church and a cemetery, visitors are expected to dress modestly and behave quietly.
Although Petrozavodsk has several Orthodox churches, this is the only one located directly inside an active city cemetery. That combination of burial ground and working church is relatively rare in Russian urban settings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
