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After the Bolshevik ascension to power in 1917, the devastation of the cathedral began. The cathedral’s dean, Father F. N. Ornatsky, and his two sons were [[martyr]]ed in September 1918. In 1922, all church valuables, including liturgical vessels and silver decorations on the icon-stands, were confiscated by the Soviet government. On [[December 26]], 1931 the cathedral was closed and transferred to the Academy of Science that, in 1932, reopened the edifice as the pro-Marxist "Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism." In 1940, the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan was moved to the St. Prince Vladimir Cathedral. After World War II some restoration work was performed: During the period of 1950 to 1956 the interior was restored and between 1963 and 1968 the facades were also repaired.
It was in 1990 that the cathedral began to see a restoration of religious life that began when a festive thanksgiving service and requiem was held at the tomb of Gen. Kutuzov on Christmas day. On [[November 4]], 1990, the first [[Divine Liturgy]] was held in the cathedral. In 1991, joint used of the cathedral was agreed to with the museum authorities. On [[April 30]], 1994, the cross was restored on the dome. Permanent [[clergy]] were assigned to the cathedral during 1996, and amid a partially restored south side chapel [[Metropolitan ]] Vladimir conducted the first liturgy with city and cathedral clergy on [[July 21]], 1966. On [[March 29]], 1998, the whole cathedral was [[consecration of a church|consecrated]] by Metr. Vladimir concelebrated with the cathedral and city clergy.
[[Image:KazanIconSP.JPG|right|thumb|250px|The Icon of [[Our Lady of Kazan]] in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.]]
In 1999, agreement was reached between the government and the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg that the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism would vacate the cathedral by 2001. Later, the Patriarch of Moscow established the status of the cathedral as a Metropolitan Church and the seat of the [[Eparchy of St. Petersburg]].
On [[July 21]], 2002, the long expected return of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan to its historic place at the main iconostasis of the Kazan Cathedral took place.
