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Museum of the History of Religion

In 1930, an exhibition devoted to the history of different religions was opened in Leningrad. Very soon it turned into a museum. First, it was installed in the Kazansky Cathedral, then it moved to its current location: an ancient building on Pochtamtskaya Ulitsa. All the exhibits of the museum are devoted to the actual subjects of the religious cults of different countries and periods. The museum has exhibitions about the history of the world´s religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism), of the religious beliefs of African and Asian countries and also of the history of the religions of the Ancient world, Egypt, and primitive cultures. The most interesting and mysterious exhibits contain the objects and clothing of Siberian shamans. Also the museum has pictures on religious themes painted by famous artists.

The museum, founded in 1932 on the premises of the Kazan Cathedral, moved to its new building at No. 14/5 Pochtamtskaya Street in 2000. In the early 18th century, on the territory between the Neva and Moika rivers, General-Procurator of the Synod and an associate of Peter I, Count Pavel Yaguzhinsky built an estate.

In 1782 the estate passed to the General Department of Postal Affairs headed by Major-General Alexander Bezborodko. The Post Administration was accommodated in the Yaguzhinsky House. Later, in 1785, to a design by Nikolai Lvov, the architect Jakob Schneider erected the building of the Post Office (now the General Post Office) where the main services were transferred.

As the demand for postal services increased, the Post Office had to be expanded. On the site of the Yaguzhinsky House the architect Albert Cavos erected a new building to accommodate a department for delivery and sorting of mail, the Management and flats of the personnel.

The building is complex in plan, its facades giving on Pochtamtskaya Street and Pochtamtsky Lane, and it has three court wings. For the convenience of communication, it was linked to the Post Office by arches and galleries raised over the street. The finish of the facades incorporates elements of Baroque, Renaissance and Neoclassical architecture: rustification and stucco mouldings (keystbries, profiled cornices and surrounds, a-frieze with rosettes, pilasters of Corinthian order with a balustrade, mascarones in the form of female heads and so on).

The building served its purpose until the late 1920s. In the mid-1950s it was turned into a dwelling house and in 1980 was emptied for a major overhaul. Finally, in 1991, it was given over to the Museum of the History of Religion.

The extremely rich reserves of the museum (180,000 units of storage) include a variety of unique collections reflecting the history of different religions.

An exhibition entitled "The Gold Embroidery of the Russian Church" has been opened on the new premises. This will be followed by a permanent display providing insights into archaic and traditional faiths, the religions of the Ancient World, Siberian Shamanism, Orthodoxy, Old Belief, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, freemasonry, etc.

The museum engaged in scientific research, offers lectures and guided tours. A school and an archaeological class-rooms will be open for the study of the history of religion.

14/5 Ulitsa Pochtamtskaya
(812) 314-5838, (812) 311-7445

11:00-18:00. Closed Wednesdays.

For foreigners 45-90R

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