Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1220 – 1263) — the great defender of the Russian land and the heavenly patron of St.Petersburg.

The artist based his work on Alexander’s phrase “He who comes bearing the sword, shall die by the sword.” . The sword is the main semantic element and it is turned downwards, forming a cross.

The top circle of a pedestal symbolizes Alexander’s spiritual acts: from the lateral faces of archangels in reliefs – Michael (the leader of heavenly troops) and Gabriel (the savior of a human race). The relief on the back side shows Alexander’s canonization.

The bottom circle of the pedestal reflects Alexander’s worldly feats. The lateral reliefs represent his most famous battles – against the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva in 1240, which earned him the sobriquet Nevsky; and on  Chudsky Lake (Lake Peipus), known as the Ice Battle or the Battle of Lake Peipus . The relief symbolizes the prince’s diplomatic talent and represents a scene of reception of the European ambassadors. The relief on the back shows Alexander’s death.