St. Vladimir Cathedral (Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince) — Admirals' Mausoleum

About museum

On the central hill of Sevastopol stands the majestic St. Vladimir Cathedral — an Orthodox church and a monument to the Crimean War. At this site in 1851 the chief commander of the Czechoslovak flotilla, Admiral M. P. Lazarev, was buried. During the defense of the city in 1854–1855, heroes of the Sevastopol epic — Admirals V. A. Kornilov, V. I. Istomin, and P. S. Nakhimov — were interred in the crypt. A tombstone with bronze inscriptions and a laurel wreath was erected over their graves. From 1869 to 1920 nine more admirals were buried in the lower church of the cathedral. On the interior walls of the upper church memorial plaques display the names of recipients of the Order of St. George who participated in the Crimean War. During World War II the cathedral was partly destroyed, and it was reconsecrated in 1991. Christian rites are performed here, and the traditions of naval Orthodoxy continue: ship flags and officers' dirks are blessed. The site still attracts many visitors who come to pay their respects to the heroes of Sevastopol.