Click on any photo for a closer view.

During the construction of the Cathedral it was a time of unrest and the workers were in an ideal position to throw bricks and construction materials down on the militia in the nearby Palace Square.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral took 40 years (1818-1848) to build and decorate. Sixty men died just from inhaling mercury fumes during the gilding of the dome.

When the architect, a relatively obscure Frenchman named Montferrand, died after 40 years of work, his widow asked that he be buried there. Rather than sully the building with the bones of a non-Orthodox Christian, however, the Tsar had Montferrand's coffin sent home to France.

St. Isaac's escaped major damage during the revolution. It was protected because it was turned into an “Anti-Religion museum” and is still officially a museum. Much of the original artwork and architectural detail remains. Also, it was during the revolution that a giant pendulum was installed, hanging from inside the dome, to demonstrate the movement of the earth.

The pillars at the entrance still bear scars of German artillery fire from World War II, however.

There many spectacular views inside. These, again, are thanks to our anonymous postcard photographers.

The stained-glass panel of Christ at left is hidden behind the doors in the middle picture above. During religious services, the doors are kept open. As part of the ritual, they're closed near the end of the service, as if to seal off the little glimpse of heaven and send the faithful back into the world.

More of the amazing sculpting and painting detail. This is above the portal of the main altar shown above.

A "Last Supper" scene with an extra character. Is that Mary, or Mary Magdalene at his right hand?

The Day of Judgment. Do click to see the enlarged detail on this.