Church of St John the Baptist

History

In 1905 Samarkand's Catholics – Russian army officers, merchants and officials – asked permission to build a church and were turned down. During the First World War large numbers of Austro-Hungarian prisoners of war were brought to the city, the congregation grew and permission was finally granted. The church was built in 1915–1916 to a design by the local architect Ye. O. Nelle, paid for by parishioners' donations. Closed in Soviet times, it was put to secular use, including as a gym. Following a presidential decree of 1997 it was handed back to the parish in 1998 and reconsecrated on 27 March 1999; the interior was fully renovated in 2021.

Architecture

Built of pale brown brick, the little church is neo-Gothic with Baroque touches: lancet windows, pointed pinnacles and a tall bell tower. Inside are stained-glass windows with biblical scenes and statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary flanking the altar.

Did you know?

At the end of the 13th century Marco Polo recorded a legend about a church of St John the Baptist in Samarkand, whose column supposedly stayed suspended in mid-air after the stone beneath it was taken away. Today's church bears the same dedication.