On Nevsky Prospekt, almost opposite the Kazan Cathedral is the oldest Catholic Church in St. Petersburg - the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It was Peter the great planned to build on Nevsky Prospekt churches belonging to different denominations, to draw in a new city representatives of different faiths. Architect Trezzini was first completed project of the Catholic Church, but it was not implemented. During the reign of the Empress Anna Ioannovna Catholic community was allocated a land plot for construction. The temple was built in the years 1763-1783 by architects Antonio Rinaldi and Jean-Baptiste Valena de La Mothe in the style of early classicism.

The Church is one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg. The main facade of the temple is a solemn arch, resting on free-standing columns. It is crowned by a Grand attic, the top of the parapet is decorated with figures of angels and evangelists. The temple arches connected with Church buildings (reception, conceived Trezzini), in the lower floors which were built arcade. The original three-storey houses were then built two more floors. The houses were built in the early 50-ies of the eighteenth century under the leadership of Antonio Rinaldi. The Church buildings are connected by stone walls, which made the archway.

The Church was consecrated on 7 October 1783 in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria, patroness of Catherine II.

The Church interior was completed with exceptional refinement, he was decorated with murals, stained glass Windows, numerous sculptures. Great image of St. Catherine, painted by the artist with Mettenleiter and presented to Empress Catherine II, was placed above the main altar of the Church. In the late 20-ies of the XIX century, the walls and columns that support the high arch of the temple were decorated with artificial marble. At the same in the temple was installed luxury made in Italy marble throne. Above the altar is also placed the crucifixion, made by the sketch I. P. Vitali. The pride of the Church was a fine organ, made by German craftsmen for special order. The property of the temple was the library of the Church, which numbered more than 60 thousand books are published in thirty languages. If the Church were organized in various schools and gymnasiums.

The Church was visited by many celebrities, Adam Mickiewicz, théophile Gautier, Franz Liszt, Honore de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, etc. Here was buried kings of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski and Stanislaw Leszczynski, the French General Jean-Victor Moreau, the speakers on the side of the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Here Dantes married here with E. N. Goncharova. Here occurred the funeral of the Builder's most famous temple of St. Petersburg, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the French architect Montferrand.

After the October revolution of 1917 the Church of Saint Catherine of happened the same as with many other churches in St. Petersburg and Russia. In September 1938 the Church was closed. He was turned into a warehouse, it houses the Museum of history of religion and atheism. Vanished library, missing the splendid interior, the body was ruined. In the second half of the twentieth century it was decided to transfer the Church state Philharmonic. Shostakovich, for the opening of the organ hall. Restoration works were started, but in 1984 a fire destroyed all that was done and what was left of the former decoration of the temple.

In the early 90-ies the Church was transferred to St. Petersburg Catholic, and in 1992 there were resumed. Today the community of the Church of St. Catherine are about six hundred men, mostly Russians. But among the laity there are those who speak English, Polish, French, Spanish or Korean, so here are held daily services in different languages and in Russian, including.