What role does the building serve today?

The building operates concurrently as an Orthodox church and a secular museum.

Why was the church constructed at this specific canal location?

The church was built as a memorial on the ground where Emperor Alexander sustained a fatal attack.

How was the canal altered to accommodate the shrine?

Workers narrowed the canal so that the road section where the attack occurred fell within the perimeter of the church.

How was the project funded?

Financial support came from the Imperial family alongside contributions from private donors.

What materials form the interior memorial shrine?

The canopy shrine contains lazurite, topaz, and other stones set directly over the preserved street cobblestones.

In which animated film does the church appear?

The building appears during the opening sequence of the animated film Anastasia.

Saint Petersburg · Russia

Church of the Savior on Blood: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents along the Griboedov Canal trade quiet mornings for relentless tour crowds outside their windows, learning quickly to navigate the back lanes instead of the waterfront.

Church of the Savior on Blood · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map of places

Around here36

Exchange rate₽80.94per 1 $RUB — the local currencyas of Nov 2, 2026

About the place

Built as an imperial memorial on the canal embankment, the landmark balances its role between an active museum and a consecrated sanctuary.

Imperial authorities founded the memorial church on the Griboedov Canal to mark the exact spot where Emperor Alexander died from an attack. Engineers narrowed the waterway so the original street pavement could be enclosed directly inside the sanctuary. A canopy shrine of topaz and lazurite covers those preserved cobblestones, creating a stark visual division between the paved roadway and the decorated interior.

Read on

The site operates simultaneously as a public museum and a consecrated church, drawing constant queues along the paved canal roads. Long-term residents in nearby quarters face heavy pedestrian congestion and tour buses daily. The building also appears across global media, featuring in the opening of the animated film Anastasia and serving as a checkpoint on televised international race competitions.

Associations

Griboedov CanalEngineers narrowed the waterway to build the church over the street.
Emperor AlexanderThe memorial marks the location of his fatal roadside attack.
Canal embankment congestionTour groups and pedestrian bottlenecks crowd the paved roadways.
AnastasiaThe church structure appears in the opening sequence of the film.
Interior cobblestonesPreserved street stones sit under a canopy of semi-precious gems.

Facts

The building operates both as a secular museum and as an active church.
Canal waters were narrowed to incorporate the site of the fatal explosion inside the building.
A gemstone ciborium canopy encloses the exposed street cobblestones opposite the altar.
Funding for the construction came from the imperial family and private donors.

Updated September 10, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Church of the Savior on Blood: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around36

Built as an imperial memorial on the canal embankment, the landmark balances its role between an active museum and a consecrated sanctuary.

Getting there and staying

Google reviews

Similar nearby