Saint Catherine's Armenian Church, Armenian church in Tsentralny District, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Saint Catherine's Armenian Church stands set back from Nevsky Prospekt between two larger buildings. Its pale blue and white facade has a portico of four white columns under a triangular pediment, with steps to the entrance. Behind rises a wide greenish-blue dome, a pale-blue drum with arched windows, and a dark cupola with a finial.

Empress Catherine II granted the site, formerly Empress Elizabeth's stables, to the Armenian community on May 2, 1770, at the request of jeweler Ivan Lazarev. Construction to Yury Felten's design began in spring 1771 and was completed in 1776; Lazarev gave 30,000 of the 33,000 rubles. Archbishop Hovsep Arghutian consecrated the church on February 18, 1780, in the presence of Prince Grigory Potemkin.

The church was consecrated in 1780 to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, namesake of Empress Catherine II, who granted the land in 1770. An Armenian school and Russia's first Armenian publishing house operated at the church; the school still functions today. The Armenian community regained the building in 1992, and Catholicos Karekin II reconsecrated it on 12 July 2000.

The church is located near Nevsky Prospekt metro station and welcomes visitors during service times. Modest clothing is recommended when entering the main worship area, particularly during active religious ceremonies.

The church had no bells until 1865, when Khristofo Lazarev obtained permission to install three of them in a former small tower. In 1887 the painter Ivan Aivazovsky gave the parish his painting "Christ on the Sea of Galilee". In 2000 the Hermitage returned relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.