30/08/03 — Church of the Spilled Blood
Russia in the 1880s and 1890s was a hotbed of rebellion. Alexander II was killed by terrorists in the 1880s (the Church of the Spilled Blood is built on the site). In 1895, anarchist organisation, The Black Hand, threw a bomb at Alexander III. Socialists of two flavours, the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, argued with anarchists over the best way to solve the problems. There were demonstrations and revolts constantly. In 1905, there was a great revolt in St Petersburg, which the government responded to with increasing repression and terrible attacks on Jewish quarters where they (often rightly) suspected the ringleaders lived.
 |
 |
 |
 |
^^ Different attempts to capture the majesty of this crazy building, an offensively opulent response to a desperate act. |
|