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The article investigates the complex nego-tiation process regarding the renovation of St Catherine's church in St Petersburg. Additionally, the goal is to gain novel understand-ing of how former religious spaces can be trans-formed and highlight the various significances these structures may possess in different con-texts, particularly at the junction of religion and cultural heritage. Built in 1865, the church served as a place of worship for the Swedish-speaking congregation for nearly eighty years before being repurposed as a sports school. Recently, Sweden has aimed to restore the church and utilize it as a centre for Swedish-Russian relations. The article examines the reasons and arguments for renovation, as well as the progress that has been made to date. Additionally, it explores the role of Sweden in Russia through the perspectives of various stakeholders, including members of the congregation, diplomats, politicians, architects and priests.

The formation of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran congregation in St. Petersburg had consequences for the Church of Sweden and for Swedish foreign policy as the congregation made repeated attempts to be recognized as a Swedish outpost in St. Petersburg. It was hoped that the Church of Sweden would take an interest in the congregation and its church. The aim of this article is to problematize the actions of the Church of Sweden and the Swedish state in connection with the revival of the Lutheran congregations on Soviet territory toward the end of the Cold War. The article combinesthe study of cultural memories with theories derived fromresearch that focuses on spatial location and materiality

This article tells the story of St. Catherine ́s Swedish Lutheran Church in St Petersburg with a particular focus on how this building was linked to a Swedish legacy and also to hopes for actions from The Church of Sweden in the time after the cold war. In the fall of 1991, a handful of people gathered in an apartment in St. Petersburg to sign an application to the city authorities to be registered as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in St. Petersburg. The application was approved and the formation had consequences for The Church of Sweden and for Swedish Foreign Policy, as the congregation repeatedly tried to be recognized as a Swedish outpost in St. Petersburg. The congregation ́s claim that they were the legitimate heirs of the Swedish Lutheran congregation, which had existed in the city or its surroundings since 1632, was clearly demonstrated, thus revealing memories, which were reactivated and filled with new content. It can clearly be stated that it would not have been possible to revive and revitalize the memory of the Swedish Lutheran presence in St. Petersburg without the material (and spatial) traces in the form of the church building. St. Catherine’s congregation is not very big today (2018). Exact numbers are hard to establish – but it is not more than 50 members. These are mostly Russians with an interest in Scandinavian history and culture, some of whom have Swedish or Finnish roots. On the other hand, arrangements like concerts, St Lucia and Christmas celebrations gather big audiences. The congregation still has an uncertain existence and the building – despite its poor condition – is the congregation´s primary asset. The (church) building can be described as an ecumenical activity house since the congregation allows other groups use of the building. There have been plans to transform the church building into a Swedish cultural center, plans not yet materialized. The building has attracted a variety of hopes of different groups, from the

Efter två förödande världskrig på 1900-talet kom världen att få genomlida en motsättningarnas utdragna förlängning i form av vad vi benämner kalla kriget. Rötterna till det finns i de politiska spänningar som uppstod när det kommunistiska bolsjevikpartiet tog makten i Ryssland. Efter andra världskriget blev motsättningen mellan öst och väst påtaglig, ohjälpligt bitter och total. I en värld präglad av den svåra motsättningen hade stater och kyrkor att forma en självförståelse och träffa sina val. Innan murarna föll är ett bidrag till förståelsen av denna konfliktfyllda tid. Olika forskare kartlägger kyrkornas internationella arbete och bidrar med insiktsfull orientering om Svenska kyrkans internationella relationer. Andra forskare redogör för hur Svenska kyrkan i Sverige påverkades av och reagerade på kalla krigets olika förhållanden. Här visas också på den debatt som kyrkliga ställningstaganden gav upphov till. Författarna till Innan murarna föll har haft en klar ambition att med sina olika bidrag medverka till en bättre förståelse av den tid som vi benämner kalla kriget., Porten till Ryssland. Minnespolitik, materialitet och kollektiva identiteter - S:ta Katarina svenska församling i S:t Petersburg runt två sekelskiften

ISBN 978-91-982192-5-8

Årsbokstitel: Sverige utanför : svensk makt och dess spår i utlandet ISBN 978-91-982150-1-4