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\n \n NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, located at 7 Kamennoostrovsky Avenue. An architectural monument, built on Kamenny Island in 1776-78. The construction of a red brick church in Neo-Gothic style by architect Y. M. Felten was commissioned by Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich (future Emperor Pavel I). The church was built to cater for former sailors in the neighbouring hospice. The church walls have high lancet windows, the belfry is crowned with a steeple. Inside the building features Gothic vaults. The church grounds, which had belonged to the court, were used as the final resting place of cavaliers of the Maltese Order in 1799-1807. Empress Catherine the Great, Pavel I and Alexander I presented several precious icons and crosses to the church. Parishioners of the church included residents of Kamennoostrovsky Palace and neighbouring summer residences. Alexander Pushkin had his children, Alexander, Grigory and Natalya, christened in this church. In 1938, the church was closed down, its premises were used as a sculptural studio. In the 1960s, the building was redesigned as a gym. In 1990, the church was returned to the faithful and restored. The stone Chapel of Our Lady was consecrated nearby in 2002.

References: Витязева В. А. Каменный остров. Л., 1975. С. 55-58; Антонов В. В., Кобак А. В. Святыни С.-Петербурга: Ист.-церков. энцикл. СПб., 1996. Т. 2. С. 99.

V. V. Antonov.\n
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Persons
\n \n \n Alexander I, Emperor\n
\n \n \n \n Catherine II, Empress\n
\n \n \n \n Felten Yury (Georg Friedrich) Matveevich\n
\n \n \n \n Paul (Pavel) I, Emperor\n
\n \n \n \n Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich\n
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