“Rome of the East”

The Neo-Byzantine architectural style in Russia, distinct from its European counterparts, emerged as a prominent and influential movement during the 19th century. This style, rooted in historicism, was shaped by Russian architects who studied Byzantine heritage through travels to Turkey, Greece, the Caucasus, and Italy. By the 1850s, it became the second most significant architectural style after the 'Russian style,' with over 200 churches built across the empire between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Key centers for training specialists in this style included the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, the Institute of Civil Engineers, and the Nicholas the First Engineering Academy. The popularity of Neo-Byzantine architecture was further fueled by patronage from wealthy art enthusiasts who established charitable institutions using private donations. Notably, the early 20th century saw the creation of remarkable replicas of Hagia Sophia in Kronstadt and Sofia, reflecting a heightened interest in Byzantine heritage.

Saveliev, Y. R. (2026). “Rome of the East”. The Routledge Handbook of the Modern Reception of Byzantium, 237–246. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003211518-22