SAINT ISAAC`S CATHEDRAL AS AN ICONIC FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN CULTURE (SCULPTURAL IMAGES OF ST.ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL: PORTICOS, DOORS)

Abstract

The article introduces the reader into the history of St. Isaac’s cathedral in St. Petersburg. It describes the subjects of the high reliefs on the pediments of its four porticoes and three main doors, the ones related to the life of St. Isaac of Dalmatia, Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. These subjects as well as the statues of the apostles on the pediments’ corners and saints on the door folds are discussed in the context of significance of these personages for the Orthodox tradition in Russia. The article also discusses the ruling dynasty’s vision of the relationship between secular and clerical powers. The article deals with the builders of the cathedral of which the leading role belongs to the architect and artist Auguste Monferrand and sculptor Ivan Vitali. The author discusses their contribution to the construction of the cathedral which is an example of late Classicism. St. Isaac’s cathedral is represented in the article as an embodiment of Russia’s union with the traditions of European culture.