October 21 1999, Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga, Vladimir, gave his blessings to construction of a chapel in the Neptun Hotel. Metropolitan Vladimir appointed the archpriest Bogdan Soiko to be in charge of the chapel, thus, determining its status – the chapel under the St. Nicholas Cathedral of St. Petersburg. March 29 2000, under the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir, it was decided to dedicate the chapel to the Nativity of Christ. The foundation ceremony of the chapel was solemnly held on Friday, July 28 2000, the memory date of the Holy Great Prince Vladimir. The ceremony of Laying the chapel and consecration the cornerstone with the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir, was perfomed by the prior of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Bogdan Soiko.
The Chapel of the Nativity is of the Orthodox confession. Its total area is 17.6 square meters, vestry is 6.2 square meters. The chapel is located on the 6th floor of the Neptun Hotel. It is a space arranged in the form of a traditional Russian Orthodox chapel, free-standing in the hotel lobby, with a west-east axis.
Above the entrance to the chapel you can see the icon of the Savior Image of Edessa. On the northern facade there is a three-part window: the central part is glass, lateral parts are tiled with images of the God's Prophets Isaiah and Daniel. The chapel doors are wooden, with bas-reliefs. In a three-piece icon-case, there are icons of the Nativity of Christ, Our Lady of Tikhvin, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. On the southern wall, there is an icon with images of: Our Lady of the Sign, the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul, the holy blessed Grand Duke Igor of Chernigov, the Holy Great Duke Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, the holy Great Martyr Saint George the Victorious, the holy blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.
December 3 2000, the construction was over. On that day, Father Bogdan solemnly consecrated the cross installed on the dome of the chapel. January 10 2001, during the Christmas holidays, His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga consecrated the chapel of the Nativity of Christ. Since then the chapel has been operating as the Temple of God.
