Historical building in classic style

Originally built to house the two main state bodies of the Russian Empire — the governing Senate and Holy Synod — in 1829-1834 years by the project of K. Rossi and A. E. Staubert.

The Senate and the Synod — are two separate buildings, United by a common compositional solution in the form of a triumphal arch. The arch symbolized the unity of Church and state, it is decorated with the sculptural group "Justice and piety". The bas-reliefs and high reliefs around the arc de Triomphe show the history of the Russian legislation, is a bas-relief of "the Law civil", busts of Peter I and Catherine II, the bas-relief "the Law of God," bas-relief "the natural Law".

In 1925-2006 years, these buildings housed the Russian state historical archive. Since may 2008, in the wing of the former Senate settled the constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, and the wing of the Synod since 2009 – the Presidential library named after B. N. Yeltsin, which is highlighted in the chambers of the Patriarch and the office of the President.

Soon after the construction of the building of Senate and Synod, moved the Church and state bureaucracy, has long been famous for its corruption. Due to this, the city was a pun, which became the St. Petersburg saying: "the Senate and the Synod of living Gifts".