St. Alexander Nevsky church in China, Wuhan: history and modernity

The article examines the problem of the role of religious phenomena in the dialogical cognition of the cultures of China and Russia. In the year of the 800th anniversary of St. Alexander Nevsky, the authors turn to his church in Wuhan, which became one of the main Orthodox churches in China more than a hundred years ago. The article examines the history of its creation, architectural style, religious activities in local life, the significance of the church as a cultural hub connecting China and Russia and contributing to the development of their tea trade. The article explores the church’s spiritual, moral and aesthetic value, and also reveals its role as a historical witness to different periods of China’s life. It is concluded that the church, having become by now the common cultural heritage of China and Russia and a symbol of friendship between the two countries, contributes to the awareness of the key principles of Russian mentality.