Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral is a brick Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, built in the Russian Revival style. It has a bell tower rising above the main body of the building, a stone iconostasis, and painted walls covering the interior.
The cathedral was built in 1909 at the expense of the Russian Ministry of War, to serve an infantry regiment based in the city at the time. After the Soviet period, the building was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and has been in active religious use since.
The name of the cathedral refers to the women who, in Orthodox Christian tradition, came to anoint the body of Jesus after his death. Inside, the painted walls and the stone iconostasis illustrate this story in a way that visitors of any background can follow.
The cathedral is the center of the Russian Orthodox diocese of Baku and holds regular services. Visitors should dress modestly and be mindful of any ongoing worship when they enter.
The cathedral holds relics attributed to Saint Bartholomew, the apostle traditionally said to have brought Christianity to what is now Azerbaijan. It also houses two icons of the Mother of God, one of Tikhvin and one of Caspian, that draw pilgrims from across the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
