Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Lutheran church in Tsentralny District, Russia
The Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Paul is a Neoclassical religious building on Nevsky Prospekt, featuring tall columns and ornate decoration across its exterior. Inside, the structure accommodates around 1500 worshippers and houses the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia.
Emperor Peter II granted land to the German Lutheran community in 1728, leading them to build a simple wooden church in 1730. The present Neoclassical structure came later, and during the Soviet era it was converted into a swimming pool, causing significant damage to its artistic elements.
The church serves a small Lutheran congregation that continues to hold regular services, maintaining Protestant traditions in Russia. The building functions as a gathering place for those connected to the Lutheran faith community.
Visits are generally possible during opening hours, though the building remains an active place of worship. It is wise to check current conditions in advance, as services or events may restrict access at certain times.
The building survived a radical conversion into a swimming pool during Soviet times, causing many of its original artworks to vanish. The restoration after the Soviet era ended revealed this unusual chapter of the past, and traces of that transformation remain visible today.
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