Relief: Section of Saint Isaac's Cathedral Door

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This high-relief depiction of Jesus Christ being flogged is part of the Saint Isaac's cathedral's massive bronze door, expertly crafted by Ivan Vitali in intricate reliefs that pay homage to the renowned doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni in Florence, designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The iconic iconostasis is beautifully framed by eight majestic columns of precious semiprecious stone: six of malachite and two smaller ones of lazurite, adding a touch of elegance to the cathedral's interior. The four ornate pediments are also richly sculpted, showcasing the exceptional skill of the craftsmen who worked on this project. Saint Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city, standing tall as the biggest orthodox basilica and the fourth-largest (by volume under the cupola) cathedral in the world. Dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a beloved patron saint of Peter the Great, who was born on the feast day of that saint, this magnificent church was ordered by Tsar Alexander I to replace an earlier structure designed by Vincenzo Brenna and was the fifth consecutive church to stand on this site. The construction of the cathedral took an impressive 40 years under Montferrand's direction, from 1818 to 1858. The neoclassical exterior exudes a sense of grandeur, reflecting the traditional Russian-Byzantine formula of a Greek-cross ground plan with a large central dome and four subsidiary domes that dominate the city skyline.