Nevsky Prospect 40-42, St. Petersburg, Russia
In May 1770, the head of the St. Petersburg Armenian community, Ivan (Hovhannes) Lazarev, presented Empress Catherine II with a petition for permission to build an Armenian church. The court architect, Felten, was put in charge of the project. The cost of construction was 33,000 rubles, 30,000 of which were donated personally by Lazarev. On February 18, 1780, St. Catherine’s was consecrated and became the center of Armenian culture in St. Petersburg. During Soviet times, the church was closed. It was re-consecrated on July 12, 2000 by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
