Foundation

Private stables of Empress Elizabeth of Russia stood on its location in the mid-18th century,^[2] until it was granted to Petersburg Armenians on May 2, 1770 by Empress Catherine the Great, upon the request of her Armenian jeweler Ivan Lazarev.^[4] Its construction was primarily financed by Lazarev,^[2][5] who provided 30,000 rubles of the total 33,000.^[6] The church was designed by Yury Felten^[4][2] and is an early example of Russian Classicism.^[2] Its construction began in the spring of 1771^[1] and was completed in 1776.^[7] The church was consecrated on February 18, 1780 by Hovsep Arghutian (Prince Argutinsky-Dolgorukov), the archbishop of the Russian diocese of the Armenian church, in attendance of Prince Grigory Potemkin, the favourite of Catherine the Great.^[4][3] It is named after Catherine of Alexandria, a namesake of the empress.^[8] Colored white and blue, it has a neoclassical portico and single cupola.^[9]

Later history

It became the center of Armenian cultural activity in the Russian imperial capital.^[10][11] The first Armenian publishing house in Russia functioned nearby.^[12] The church did not have bells until 1865, when Khristofo E. Lazarev received permission to install them. The church was completely renovated by the Russian-Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian in 1906–09.^[4][1]

The church was closed down by Soviet authorities no later than May 1930.^[7] During the Second World War, the building served as the headquarters of the anti-aircraft defense and later as a decoration room of the Leningrad Theater of Musical Comedy.^[3][7][13] The Armenian community regained ownership of the church in August 1992^[7][4] and the first mass took place in March 1993.^[7] After thorough restoration, the church was reconsecrated on July 12, 2000 by Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow.^[3] It was renovated again in 2014.^[14]