Alexander Nevsky Cathedral — Baku's Lost "Golden Church"
In the late 19th century Baku built a vast Orthodox cathedral with golden domes. Its story is part of the history of a multicultural city.
The oil boom turned Baku into a multicultural city, drawing people from all over the Russian Empire and Europe. Churches, Lutheran kirks and synagogues appeared alongside mosques. The largest was the Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky.
Construction
The cathedral was founded in 1888 in the presence of Emperor Alexander III and consecrated in 1898. Residents of many faiths donated to it, including Muslims such as oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. For its bright domes locals called it the "Golden Church".
Architecture
Built in the Russian-Byzantine style, it held thousands of worshippers. Its huge central dome and bell tower were visible from the sea and served as a landmark for ships.
Its fate
The cathedral was blown up in 1937. Other Orthodox churches still serve Baku, such as the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrhbearers, restored in the early 2000s. The story of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral shows how diverse Baku was in the oil boom era.
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