Historically, that since the founding of St. Petersburg on Vasilevsky Island was settled many Germans Protestant (Lutheran), so needs a fairly large community of believers in 1729 in a wooden house consecrated prayer hall. Over time, in this place a church was built of wood, which was consecrated in 1744 in honor of CB. Peter. Stone church, preserved until our time, built in 1771 by architect Felten, in his typical style of early classicism and was consecrated in honor of the CB. Catherine. Empress Catherine II made a considerable contribution to its construction - about 2000 rubles.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Catherine - bunk, three naves, divided by Corinthian columns. The main facade is decorated with a high dome with a cross on the south side of the building. The altar is decorated with reproductions of the "Last Supper" with original Rubens and "Resurrection" with original van Loo. By the way, the altar in the Lutheran Church, in contrast to the Orthodox church, the congregation is not closed by the iconostasis, which symbolically shows the lack of barriers between God and man, thanks to the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Lutherans do not worship icons, statues and images of the Lord, the Mother of God, the saints and angels, but they decorate their temples, believing that they serve the edification and instruction of the faithful. Therefore, on the walls of the church you can see the original Grimmel "Crucifixion" and "The Temptation of Adam," and in the room - marble statue of the Savior, Saints. Peter and Paul.

The church was rebuilt in order to expand to 200 beds in 1902 - 1903. Works were supervised by the architect Mashner. It was decided at the sides of the building away from the portico to attach additional space and stairs that little has changed and decorate the building. By the beginning of XX century Lutheran Community was approximately 8,000 people in the parish included a nursing home, an orphanage, male and female high school, primary school.

In the 1930s, Lutheran parish was disbanded, the church was closed to the faithful in 1935 (there are alternately placed and the Club of miners, and a branch of the Research Institute "Hydroproject", and the House Children and Youth Creativity), and only in 1990 returned to the community of believers. In 1991, the facade of the church was painted beige paint, conceived by the architect returned form. Lutheran Protestant church service accompanied by the performance of choral works and organ music. And music to accompany Lutheran worship wrote the famous German composers: from Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Shyuttsado to Johann Sebastian Bach.

Kirch St. Catherine is interesting not only for its architecture, but also a unique body, which is the largest mechanical organ Petersburg. The history of the parish of St. authority. Catherine is not easy - in 1852 at one of the repairs (done when Choirs) was mounted Body firm Metzel (Regensburg), in 1903 in its place established the firm Walcker organ, which in 1953 was moved to Mariinskii Opera House. In 1998, the church organ was installed in the 17 registers and two manual-known German company Sauer. The uniqueness of the wonderful acoustics of the room and the church of St. Catherine offer a truly unique and rich sound - not for nothing in the church building from 1972 housed a recording studio "Melody".

The church of St. Catherine on Wednesdays and Sundays are traditionally conducted concerts of organ music, which everyone is invited to listen to this "king of musical instruments." On Sunday, along with the authority to hear and other musical instruments. Worship accompanied by organ are held in Europe, adopted by the Lutheran rite (the middle of the concert, the pastor says little sermon).