Authorities in St. Petersburg have approved the construction of a new Orthodox church dedicated to St. George the Victorious, patron saint of warriors, in honor of Russian military personnel, including those participating in the ongoing special military operation. The project, which has been officially sanctioned by the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP), will be located in the Pushkin district at the intersection of Petersburg Highway and Detskoselsky Boulevard.

The church, envisioned as a "warrior temple," will be built on the site of a former open-air swimming pool. According to local media, the idea for the project emerged at the beginning of the military campaign and has since received strong support from residents of Tsarskoye Selo and across the city. Clergy reported receiving numerous requests from families of deployed soldiers seeking a place for prayer and spiritual support.

In 2023, the city allocated land for the project, and in 2024 a commemorative cross was erected and blessed on the future construction site. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov attended the ceremony and presented the parish priest with an icon of St. George.

The design of the church draws inspiration from ancient Russian ecclesiastical architecture. It will replicate the style of the 13th-century Church of St. Nicholas on Lipno and reach a height of approximately 30 meters. The main dome will be shaped like a warrior's helmet—symbolizing spiritual and military strength—and the complex will include a bell tower, memorial alley, refectory, car and bicycle parking.

The planned structure, dedicated to the memory and honor of Russia’s defenders, will serve as both a place of worship and a cultural landmark, highlighting traditional Russian values and the legacy of faith and patriotism associated with historic figures like Prince Alexander Nevsky.

A model of the church has been released by the St. Petersburg city administration