Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral
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The biggest Orthodox Cathedral in Estonia was built as a symbol of Russian domination over Estonians. It's located on a Toompea hill, on the same street as Lutheran St. Mary Cathedral, and without doubt is bigger and more splendid.
Cathedral was opened in 1900, but was closed only forty years later. It was opened for two years after the World War II, and then communists changed it into storage. The renovation started in 1991, immediately after dissolution of USSR.
Nowadays the monumental construction is fully renovated, and visitors may admire both – the colourful exterior, and the interior full of paintings and gold. Five onion-shape domes are visible from distance, contrasting with tall spires of Lutheran and Catholic churches. Exterior walls are decorated with relief and mosaic, which is also different from pure, white walls of st. Mary Cathedral. But the real horror vacui (fear of emptiness) can be observed inside the church. Every possible place is covered by paintings or mosaics, and a gilded iconostasis is a finest example of Russian sacral art.
