Cathedral of St Catherine
At St. Catherine`s Cathedral found his last refuge favorite most notorious Russian Empress - Catherine II. Prince Potemkin, the founder of Kherson, personally oversaw the construction of the temple. On his initiative, the majestic building was named in honor of the saint whose name was of the Empress. The first Orthodox church was built 5 years Tauris. He went into the architectural ensemble of the Kherson fortress and was completed in 1786.
An important event in the history of the cathedral was the arrival of the Empress. Gift Catherine II became the altar cross, made of gold and decorated with precious stones, and ancient gospel. By the way, has survived a chair that was made especially for the visit of the great empress.
In the temple there were also well-known Russian generals - Kutuzov and Suvorov. On the territory of St. Catherine`s Cathedral is the burial of officers who died in the Russian-Turkish war, - "Pantheon Kherson fortress."
In 1791, in the Cathedral honorably buried the body of the prince. Potemkin in ceremonial robes laid in a double coffin, covered in pink velvet with gold braid. In his pillow lay strewn diamonds portrait of the Empress. Heart Prince was placed in a golden urn, which was taken to his home in the village near Smolensk.
Unfortunately, in Soviet times the church was looted. From there, taken 2 pounds 18 pounds of silver. In 1930 the cathedral was closed and the building was opened in his anti-religious museum. One of the exhibits was exposed skull of Prince Potemkin. But after a time it again put in the crypt. In 1991 he returned to the Cathedral of the Orthodox Church.
