Church on the Spilled Blood

The Church on the Spilled Blood, or The Church of Resurrection, is the site of the mortal wounding of Emperor Alexander II. It was built on the spot where the emperor was assasinated in 1881. The site of the murder is marked by a special chapel in the western part of the builiding beneath the bell. Here, in an area slightly below floor-level, part of the carriageway and railings that were stained with blood at the time of assasination can be seen. According to our translators, many Russians today swear they can still see the blood. Darren and I did not. Looks like river rocks surrounded by an ornate gazebo-type temple. The construction of the church and work on the decor took 24 years. It is 81 meters high (love that metric system).

Although the love of the faithful did not save the church from being closed in 1930, the will of God saved it from destruction during the Blockade when a shell fell on a cupola but did not explode. It was later removed in 1961, by sappers who risked their lives to defuse the missile. Truly, a work or art.