Contemporary · Churches

Église orthodoxe de tous les saints de Strasbourg

Strasbourg

The Église orthodoxe de tous les saints de Strasbourg is a Russian Orthodox church located in Strasbourg, France, in the quartier du Conseil des XV by the canal de la Marne au Rhin. It is linked to the Russian parish of Strasbourg, attached to the Moscow Patriarchate, and was associated for several years with a renovated former garage at 4, rue de Niederbronn, near boulevard Clemenceau. The idea of constructing a proper church emerged during Patriarch Alexis II’s visit in 2007. In 2011, the municipality granted land in the Conseil des XV district on former tennis courts, on the edge of the Marne-Rhine Canal and near European institutions.

The church design was prepared by Russian architect Dimitry Pchenitchnikov and French executive architect Michel Arnold. The project includes a spiritual and cultural center intended to host parish activities and the Moscow Patriarchate representation to the Council of Europe. The center was inaugurated with the presence of mayor Roland Ries and deputy Olivier Bitz. The church’s exterior structure was completed with the installation of golden domes in March 2017, and it later received a minor consecration followed by a major consecration celebrated by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

Map showing the location of Église orthodoxe de tous les saints de Strasbourg in Strasbourg
Location of Église orthodoxe de tous les saints de Strasbourg in Strasbourg

Nearby Objects

Location in Strasbourg

The Russian Orthodox church is located in Strasbourg, France, in the quartier du Conseil des XV, by the canal de la Marne au Rhin. Its setting places it within a specific urban district and alongside a canal, giving it a clearly defined position in the city.

From Parish Garage to New Orthodox Complex

The Orthodox parish of Strasbourg, attached to the Moscow Patriarchate and later granted a patriarchal title, first occupied a renovated former garage at 4, rue de Niederbronn, near boulevard Clemenceau, from 2007 to 2017. The idea of building a true church emerged during Patriarch Alexis II's visit in 2007. In 2011, the municipality granted the parish 0.5 acres of land in the Conseil des XV district, on former tennis courts, at the edge of the Marne-Rhine Canal near European institutions.

The new church was designed by Russian architect Dimitry Pchenitchnikov and French executive architect Michel Arnold. It is planned to accommodate up to 300 worshippers and to be crowned by a golden dome. The parish laid the first stone of the building on an unspecified date, and in March 2017 the installation of the golden domes completed the exterior structure. A large golden stainless steel cross was also installed on the main dome on an unspecified date.

The wider project includes a spiritual and cultural center built near the church to host parish activities and the Moscow Patriarchate representation to the Council of Europe. Its architecture is inspired by northern Russia to match the church, and the ground floor rooms are painted sky blue as a symbol of the Virgin Mary and the protection of Mount Athos and Strasbourg. Before the foundations were poured, stones from Mount Athos were placed on the site. The center was inaugurated in the presence of mayor Roland Ries and deputy Olivier Bitz.

The overall project budget is ten million euros, but progress has been slow and based mainly on collected donations. At one point, six million euros were still needed to complete construction and decoration, with completion planned for early 2018.

Consecration History

The church's liturgical history includes two consecration ceremonies. A minor consecration was performed by Bishop Nestor (Sirotenko) of Chersonesus with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, on an unspecified date. The major consecration was later celebrated by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, also on an unspecified date. These ceremonies mark important milestones in the church's religious use and status.