The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Cathedral (formerly — Kreuzkirche, Church of the Cross) is an Orthodox church in Kaliningrad housed in the building of a former Lutheran-Evangelical church.

At the beginning of the 20th century, residential buildings began to be constructed in the eastern part of Lomse Island (now October Island). Since the new district was located quite far from all the existing churches at that time, the question arose about building its own church. The plot of land for the future church was purchased by the Altstadt parish community in 1913, but construction did not begin because peaceful life was interrupted by World War I.

After the war, the parish community returned to the idea of building a church. In 1925, a project was drafted, but it was deemed unsuccessful. A new project was commissioned from the well-known Berlin architect Arthur Kickton, who had previously gained fame for restoring churches in Jerusalem damaged by an earthquake. Kickton’s project included not only the church building itself but also a parsonage and a community house.

The laying of the first stone of the future church took place on June 15, 1930. Construction was funded by the Altstadt church community, the union of Evangelical communities of Königsberg, and the Prussian government in the floodplain of the Pregel River on Kneiphof Island, according to the design of the famous Potsdam architect Arthur Kickton for the newly formed Lutheran Evangelical community of Königsberg, located east of Weidendamm and Lindenstraße streets. The church was named Kreuzkirche (Church of the Cross) and was the last religious building constructed in Königsberg. The church was consecrated on May 7, 1933.

Distinctive features of this building, which set it apart from the majority of the city’s churches, included: a two-towered bell tower, unusual for German churches in Prussia, which typically had a single tower of strict Gothic form; the depiction of a large white cross in a vaulted blind niche on the bell tower facade; Catholic symbolism in the form of a heart with a cross on its background (the symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) and trefoil lilies (symbol of the Holy Trinity); the round shape of the building’s base symbolizing eternity; a departure from the Gothic style in favor of ancient Eastern forms of church architecture. The building lacks a traditionally constructed foundation and basement rooms. Due to the soil characteristics that formed the island in the floodplain of two branches of the Pregel River (peat bogs and deep shifting silt), the church masonry, starting at a depth of three meters, rests on three-layered fir log rafts. Two rows of columns divided the interior space of the church into three naves. On the eastern (altar) side, a parish house was later added to the church to support community activities and house the clergy.

The church building’s plan is in the shape of a Greek (equilateral) cross. The building had three naves. Above the western facade rise two towers of equal height, topped with domes. The towers are connected by a covered gallery. Previously (in German times), a clock was located under the gallery.

The main architectural detail of the western facade is a huge niche-portal, the surface of which is decorated with a panel of Kadan majolica featuring a large cross. At the intersection of the crossbars, the phrase “The word of the cross reveals the power of the Lord” was written. On the eastern side, the clergy house adjoined the church building. Kadan clinker — decorative brick — was used for the building’s cladding.

One of the elements of the cathedral’s exterior decoration was a sculpture of a pelican, allegorically symbolizing Christian sacrifice, created by animal sculptor Arthur Steiner. Today, the sculpture has not survived.

The architectural style of the building as a whole can be classified as late Art Nouveau, with elements of Gothic and Neoclassicism.

The church interior was mainly decorated by the Berlin artist Erchst Fey. The church’s stained glass windows were created based on sketches by Königsberg artist Gerhard Eisenblätter. Another Königsberg artist, Jakob, designed the baptismal font, communion cup, and altar lamp. Balconies were located above the side naves of the church. The pre-war interior decoration of the church has not been preserved.

During World War II, Kreuzkirche was not heavily damaged, although the dome of the southern tower burned down. After the war, the new authorities began using the building for economic purposes. At different times, it housed an auto repair shop and an experimental fishing gear factory. The building underwent unskilled alterations and reconstructions. Concrete floors were installed inside. As a result, the foundation, not designed for such loads, failed. Subsidence increased, and cracks appeared in the walls. By the early 1980s, the building was abandoned.

In June 1986 (according to other sources — in September 1989), the former Kreuzkirche building was transferred to the Orthodox community. In January 2000, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad consecrated the unique amber iconostasis located in the cathedral’s main altar.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Cathedral officially served as the cathedral of the Kaliningrad-Smolensk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church until the consecration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Kaliningrad in 2006.

Sources:

http://kresthram.pravorg.ru/main-page/

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Крестовоздвиженский_собор_(Калининград)