Darmstadt - Russische Kapelle

Darmstadt is a city in the southern part of the Rhine-Main-Area with a population of around 160,000. Darmstadt holds the official title "City of Science" as it is a major centre of scientific institutions, universities, and high-tech companies.

Darmstadt was chartered as a city by Emperor Ludwig IV ("The Bavarian") in 1330, at which time it belonged to the counts of Katzenelnbogen. The city became a secondary residence for the counts. When the House of Katzenelnbogen became extinct in 1479, the city was passed to the Landgraviate of Hesse and was the seat of the ruling landgraves and up to 1918 of the Grand Dukes of Hesse.

During the 19th century, the population grew from little over 10,000 to more than 70,000 inhabitants. In 1942 under the reign of the Nazis more than 3,000 Jews were deported to concentration camps where most died.

After a British bombing raid in September 1944, the old city centre was largely destroyed. During this attack, an estimated 11,000 to 12,500 inhabitants burned to death. Post-war rebuilding was done in a relatively plain architectural style, although a number of the historic buildings were rebuilt to their original appearance.

Located as well on the Mathildenhoehe, amidst the Artists’ Colony, is the "Russian Chapel".

The church was built 1897 - 1899 (on imported Russian soil) according to plans by the Petersburg architect Leonti Nikolajewitsch Benois (a grandfather of Peter Ustinov!!). The client was the Russian Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, who, when visiting the home of Tsarina Alexandra, born Princess Alix of Hessen-Darmstadt, did not want to do without his own house of worship.