St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Warsaw

[4] The idea of building a large Orthodox cathedral in Warsaw was expressed in a letter from the Governor General of Poland, Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko, to Alexander III of Russia.

[2] Tsar Alexander III gave his approval to fund the cathedral on the date of the anniversary of the partitions of Poland in 1893 which was celebrated as the "joining of the West Russian state".

[2] A significant part of the funds needed to build the cathedral were raised by personal donations from almost every corner of the Russian Empire.

In an appeal to Moscow's residents, Gourko's chancellery wrote: By its very presence ... the Russian Church declares to the world ... that in the western terrains along the Vistula, mighty Orthodox rule has taken root ...

[5]The rest of the funds came from mandatory donations required from all municipalities within Gourko's jurisdiction and special tax increases within the city of Warsaw [1].

The mostly non-Russian-Orthodox population who had to provide these funds resented being forced to contribute, adding to the political controversy surrounding the project.

They also made some alterations to the cathedral to suit their needs, such as adding a pipe organ and chairs for the worshippers, as a rule not found in Orthodox churches.

It was perceived by the Polish inhabitants of Warsaw as a symbol of Russian domination and hence was very unpopular,[citation needed] and the Stefan Batory University Arts Faculty estimated it as having little artistic value.

Adding to the political and nationwide character to the destruction of the largest Orthodox Cathedral in interwar Poland, the Warsaw magistrate issued public bonds to "give a chance to every Pole to take part in the action."

For example, in the summer of 1924 an Orthodox member of the Polish Senate, Vyacheslav Bogdanovich, gave a passionate speech in favour of preserving the cathedral.

In 1925, equipment was imported from Germany to bore holes in the masonry for explosives, but a detonation in October 1925 failed to destroy the cathedral.

Photograph of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Warsaw shortly after completion in 1912.
Saxon Square as seen from the air in 1919.
Interior of the cathedral as it appeared in 1915, after retreating Russians removed many of the decorations. Note the chairs in the hall, showing the Cathedral in use as a Lutheran church by the German army. Worshippers do not sit in Russian Orthodox churches.