Grand Choral Synagogue

Grand Choral Synagogue was built by the design of architects I. Shaposhnikov and L. Bakhman in 1893. The Synagogue is the religious centre of Jewish Community in Saint-Petersburg, which by the middle of the XIX century numbered about 10 thousand people. The main sponsor of the construction was the leader of the Jewish Community Evzel Ginzburg. The building was created in Moorish style. Grand Choral Synagogue is the second largest synagogue in Europe. The central part of the building is decorated with an avant-corps and arch portal with double colonnades. The edifice is topped with the spherical cupola. The chandelier in the main hall is the original one, which was restored and plated with silver leaf. In 1909 the fence of the granite blocks with metal grille was constructed in front of the building. The Gran Choral Synagogue is orthodox, that is why man and woman should pray separately. There is a special gallery for women on the second floor. Above the gallery on the balcony there is a place for the male choir. In 1978 the restoration works were carried out in Synagogue on the threshold of the Olympic Games of 1980, which took place in Moscow. Then the Synagogue became one of the main sights of St. Petersburg.

Religion and philosophy The city in architecture and monuments

monuments, architecture