Built on the Spot of an Assassination
The church’s name is literal. On 1 March 1881, Tsar Alexander II was fatally wounded here on the embankment of the Griboedov Canal by a bomb thrown by Ignaty Grinevitsky, a member of the revolutionary group People’s Will. His son, Alexander III, ordered a church raised on the exact spot where his father fell — a section of the original canal-side cobbles is preserved inside, beneath a shrine. Built to designs by the architect Alfred Parland in a deliberately Russian Revival style, it took some twenty-four years to complete, opening in 1907.
A Cathedral of Mosaic
The interior is the real astonishment. Almost every surface — walls, ceilings, pillars — is covered in mosaic, more than 7,000 square metres of it, making this one of the largest collections of mosaic art in Europe. Designed by leading Russian artists of the day, the glittering biblical scenes give the inside a jewel-box intensity quite unlike the painted interiors of the city’s other great churches.
Visiting
The church stands on the Griboedov Canal, a couple of minutes from Nevsky Prospekt and the Russian Museum, and now works as a museum open to visitors most days. It is best seen both from the outside — reflected in the canal — and within, for the mosaics. Allow time to simply stand and look up.
Getting There — the Honest Part
As of 2026 there are no direct flights to Russia from North America, the United Kingdom or most of the European Union; travellers connect through hubs such as Istanbul, Dubai or Doha and then fly on domestically, usually via Moscow. A consular tourist visa must be arranged in advance — the eVisa is not open to US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders — and foreign Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards do not work inside the country, so you travel on cash. Several Western governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, currently advise against travel to Russia; check your own government’s guidance before making firm plans.
FAQ
Why is it called “on Spilled Blood”?
Because it was built on the exact spot where Tsar Alexander II was fatally wounded in 1881; the original piece of the street where he fell is preserved inside the church.
What is inside?
One of the largest mosaic interiors in Europe — more than 7,000 square metres of it — covering almost every wall and ceiling with biblical scenes.
Where is it?
On the Griboedov Canal in central St Petersburg, a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt. The nearest airport is Pulkovo (LED); see the note above on reaching Russia from the West in 2026.
