The story of Naval cathedral of St. Nicholas

When the cornerstone of this cathedral was laid, Tsar Nicholas II was among the dignitaries present, and two years later, in 1903, it was consecrated in his presence and dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers. It was built as the cathedral of the Russian navy stationed in Karosta, to designs by Vasily Kosyakov in the style of 17th century Russian churches: a central dome representing Christ, surrounded by four smaller domes for the four evangelists.

After independence in 1918 it became a Lutheran church for Latvian navy personnel. In Soviet times Karosta was a secret navy zone, and the cathedral was turned into a gym, a cinema and a recreation room called the red corner.

The inside of the central dome was even closed off, because its acoustics made films hard to hear. In 1991 it was returned to the Orthodox Church, and the first service was held that December.