St. Petersburg

The Imperial Capital • Jewish Architects

Russia's window to the West, St. Petersburg became home to Jewish architects, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals who shaped the city's iconic skyline. The Great Choral Synagogue stands as the center of Jewish religious life in the former imperial capital.

The Great Choral Synagogue

Built between 1880 and 1888 and consecrated in 1893, the Great Choral Synagogue became the center for Jewish life in St. Petersburg. It is one of the largest synagogues in Europe, displaying Moorish and Byzantine architectural styles inspired by the Oranienburger Straße New Synagogue in Berlin.

The permit for construction was approved by Tsar Alexander II in 1869, after prominent Russian-Jewish figures Joseph Günzburg and Samuel Polyakov requested a house of worship for the Jewish community. The arch above the gateway bears the inscription from Isaiah 56:7: "For mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people."

From 2000 to 2005, the synagogue underwent major reconstruction thanks to a $5 million donation. It was officially renamed the Edmond J. Safra Grand Choral Synagogue, though locals still call it the "Bolshaya Sinagoga." The main hall seats 1,200 people, including three women's sections on the upper level. Today it remains a registered landmark and cultural center for St. Petersburg's Jewish community.

Sources

Jewish Contributions to the Architecture of St. Petersburg (JCASP), Tulane University
Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem