Temple on the Water — The Church of Andrew the First-Called on the Vuoksa

The Church of Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle is located on a small island in the Vuoksa River. Besides its architectural elegance and miniature size, it is notable for being founded on a monolithic rock protruding from the water.

The church is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the only church in the world built on a tiny island whose foundation is a monolithic rock emerging from the water. It was built in 2000 by Andrey Nikolaevich Rotinov, an architect by education. The church was constructed according to ancient canons in the shape of a figure eight in 2000 by ordinary people – a professor from Herzen University and a dacha owner, Andrey Lyamkin, who supported the idea and lives near Vuoksa. The architectural design was inspired by the oldest Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye.

The church’s name is connected to a church tradition that one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, Andrew the First-Called, was in these places and baptized people in the waters of the Vuoksa. In the autumn of 2000, the church was consecrated, and since then services have been held there; baptisms and weddings can be performed. Many are attracted to this picturesque and secluded place.

Although the church is on an island, it can be reached not only by water – a bridge to the island was built not long ago.

Sources:

https://www.magicwaters.ru/news/khram-na-vode-khram-andreya-pervozvannogo-na-vuokse-179

http://www.lenoblland.ru/church.html