Another name for St. Basil. Intercession Cathedral on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral)

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, which is on the moat, is the name of this temple on Red Square. But among the people it is more often called St. Basil's Cathedral. There are also those who remember the name Trinity Cathedral, which existed in the 16th century. This 65-meter-high temple closes the perspective of Bolshaya Dmitrovka. And before, before the construction of tall buildings in Moscow at the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries, the cathedral was visible in the perspective of large areas of Pokrovka, Tverskaya, Myasnitskaya, Petrovka. It was rightly called the main temple of the Moscow suburb.

The cathedral was built in 1555-1561 next to the Kremlin fortress moat. You can say, on the edge of the ditch, hence its name - that on the ditch. The customer for the construction of the cathedral was Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The cathedral was built as a memory of the capture of the capital of the Kazan Khanate, the city of Kazan. The siege of Kazan began on August 15, 1552 and ended with an assault on the holiday of the Intercession. It was decided to build a cathedral with 9 thrones, or 9 churches, in honor of those holidays on which important moments of the siege and storming of the city occurred.

The central temple, completed with a tent, is the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. Around it are churches: from the east - the Trinity, the western temple - the Entrance to Jerusalem, St. Nicholas of Velikoretsky, Cyprian and Justina (later reconsecrated in the name of Adrian and Natalia), Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople (later - John the Merciful), Alexander of Svirsky, Varlaam Khutynsky, Gregory of Armenian. Services in each of the churches were performed only on their patronal feast days. All churches, except the central one, Pokrovskaya, are completed with colored patterned onion domes. They appeared at the end of the 16th century instead of the old helmet-shaped domes. All churches stand on a high basement that unites them, like on a pedestal. All churches have circular passages around them. In the 16th century, the outer gallery around the churches was open, and the treatment of the walls at the gallery level in all churches took the form of a wide strip of arches and cornices, visually unifying the entire building. Today this wall treatment can be seen in the interior of the gallery, at the south-eastern corner of the cathedral. Due to Moscow climatic conditions, in the middle of the 17th century the gallery was covered with vaults, and stone tents were placed over the porches. At the same time, for the first time, bright decorative paintings appeared on the facades of the cathedral. A little earlier, in the 1670s, a tented bell tower was built instead of a belfry.

In 1588, a low single-domed church was added to the northwestern part of the gallery over the tomb of St. Basil the Blessed (1469 - 1552). Even during his lifetime, Vasily was famous as a holy fool and seer. During the funeral, Vasily’s coffin was carried by Ivan the Terrible himself with the boyars, and Metropolitan Macarius performed the funeral service. Over time, Vasily became one of the Moscow saints beloved by the people. Services in St. Basil's Church were performed daily, which is why the entire cathedral began to be called St. Basil's Cathedral.

At the beginning of the 18th century, there were already 18 thrones in the Intercession Cathedral. New altars were consecrated in the basement.

By the beginning of the 19th century, around the cathedral there were long shopping rows of small shops, taverns and taverns, separating it from Red Square. During the restoration of the city after the fire of 1812, it was decided to clear the area, and in 1817 the architect Osip Bove built a retaining wall from the west, south and east. The cathedral received a forged fence that has survived to this day.

It is believed that the cathedral was built by masters Barma and Postnik. Some researchers believe that it was one person, Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. Other buildings by Postnik Yakovlev are also known, created by him after the construction of the cathedral. But none of them are similar to the Intercession Cathedral either in details or in technology. The architecture of the cathedral contains many architectural forms that could only be created by a person who worked and studied in Western Europe. But such a person is not yet known to us.

In 1923, it was decided to create a museum in the cathedral. Services in St. Basil's Church continued until 1929. The last rector of the cathedral, Fr. John Vostorgov was shot by court in 1918, and in 2000 he was canonized. Since 1991, the cathedral has been jointly used by the museum and the Orthodox Church.

Since 1931, in the fence of the cathedral there has been a monument to Minin and Pozharsky (1818, sculptor Ivan Martos). The monument was moved to the cathedral from the middle of Red Square, where it began to interfere with parades and mass demonstrations held twice a year, on May 1 and November 7.

Coordinates: 55°45′08.88″ n. w. 37°37′23″ E. d. /  55.752467° s. w. 37.623056° E. d.(G) (O) (I)55.752467 , 37.623056

Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral- an Orthodox church located on the Red Square of Kitai-Gorod in Moscow. A widely known monument of Russian architecture. Until the 17th century, it was usually called Trinity, since the original wooden church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity; was also known as “Jerusalem”, which is associated both with the dedication of one of the chapels and with the procession of the cross to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the “procession on the donkey” of the Patriarch.

Status

St. Basil's Cathedral

Currently, the Intercession Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Included in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.

The Intercession Cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. For many, it is a symbol of Moscow, Russian Federation. Since 1931, in front of the cathedral there has been a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (installed on Red Square in 1818).

Story

Versions about creation

The Pokrovsky Cathedral was built in 1920 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan and the victory over the Kazan Khanate. There are several versions about the creators of the cathedral. According to one version, the architect was the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. According to another, widely known version, Barma and Postnik are two different architects, both participating in the construction; this version is now outdated. According to the third version, the cathedral was built by an unknown Western European master (presumably Italian, as before - a significant part of the buildings of the Moscow Kremlin), hence such a unique style, combining the traditions of both Russian architecture and European architecture of the Renaissance, but this version is still I never found any clear documentary evidence.

According to legend, the architect(s) of the cathedral were blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could not build another similar temple. However, if the author of the cathedral is Postnik, then he could not have been blinded, since for several years after the construction of the cathedral he participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin.

The cathedral at the end of the 16th - 19th centuries.

• in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka),
• in honor of the torment. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of St. Cyprian and Justina - October 2),
• St. John the Merciful (until XVIII - in honor of St. Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - November 6),
• Alexander Svirsky (April 17 and August 30),
• Varlaam Khutynsky (November 6 and 1st Friday of Peter's Lent),
• Gregory of Armenia (September 30).

All of these eight churches (four axial, four smaller ones between them) are crowned with onion-shaped domes and grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped church towering above them in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God, completed by a tent with a small dome. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages.

First floor

Podklet

“Our Lady of the Sign” in the basement

There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral. Churches and galleries stand on a single foundation - a basement, consisting of several rooms. The strong brick walls of the basement (up to 3 m thick) are covered with vaults. The height of the premises is about 6.5 m.

The design of the northern basement is unique for the 16th century. Its long box vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - by the spirits. Together with the “breathable” building material - brick - they provide a special indoor microclimate at any time of the year.

Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. The deep niches in it were used as storage. They were closed with doors, the hinges of which have now been preserved.

Until 1595, the royal treasury was hidden in the basement. Wealthy townspeople also brought their property here.

One entered the basement from the upper central Church of the Intercession of Our Lady via an internal white stone staircase. Only the initiated knew about it. Later this narrow passage was blocked. However, during the restoration process of the 1930s. a secret staircase was discovered.

In the basement there are icons of the Intercession Cathedral. The oldest of them is the icon of St. St. Basil's at the end of the 16th century, written specifically for the Intercession Cathedral.

The icon “Our Lady of the Sign” is a replica of the façade icon located on the eastern wall of the cathedral. Written in the 1780s. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. The icon was located above the entrance to the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed.

Church of St. Basil the Blessed

Canopy over the tomb of St. Basil the Blessed

The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial place of St. St. Basil's. A stylized inscription on the wall tells about the construction of this church after the canonization of the saint by order of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

The temple is cubic in shape, covered with a cross vault and crowned with a small light drum with a dome. The roof of the church is made in the same style as the domes of the upper churches of the cathedral.

The oil painting of the church was done for the 350th anniversary of the start of construction of the cathedral (1905). The dome depicts the Savior Almighty, the forefathers are depicted in the drum, the Deesis (Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist) is depicted in the crosshairs of the vault, and the Evangelists are depicted in the sails of the vault.

On the western wall is the temple image of the “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Fyodor Stratelates, John the Baptist, Saint Anastasia, and the Martyr Irene.

On the northern and southern walls there are scenes from the life of St. Basil: “The Miracle of Salvation at Sea” and “The Miracle of the Fur Coat.” The lower tier of the walls is decorated with a traditional ancient Russian ornament in the form of towels.

The iconostasis was completed in 1895 according to the design of the architect A.M. Pavlinova. The icons were painted under the guidance of the famous Moscow icon painter and restorer Osip Chirikov, whose signature is preserved on the icon “The Savior on the Throne”.

The iconostasis includes earlier icons: “Our Lady of Smolensk” from the 16th century. and the local image of “St. Saint Basil against the backdrop of the Kremlin and Red Square" XVIII century.

Above the burial place of St. St. Basil's Church has an arch decorated with a carved canopy. This is one of the revered Moscow shrines.

On the southern wall of the church there is a rare large-sized icon painted on metal - “Our Lady of Vladimir with selected saints of the Moscow circle “Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly” (1904)

The floor is covered with Kasli cast iron slabs.

St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decorative decoration was restored. On August 15, 1997, on the day of remembrance of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and holiday services were resumed in the church.

Second floor

Galleries and porches

An external bypass gallery runs along the perimeter of the cathedral around all the churches. Initially it was open. In the middle of the 19th century. the glazed gallery became part of the cathedral's interior. Arched entrance openings lead from the external gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it with internal passages.

The central Church of the Intercession of Our Lady is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the upper parts of the churches. In the second half of the 17th century. the gallery was painted with floral patterns. Later, narrative oil paintings appeared in the cathedral, which were updated several times. Tempera painting is currently unveiled in the gallery. Oil paintings from the 19th century have been preserved on the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints in combination with floral patterns.

Carved brick entrances leading to the central church organically complement the decor. The portal has been preserved in its original form, without late coatings, which allows you to see its decoration. The relief details are laid out from specially molded pattern bricks, and the shallow decoration is carved on site.

Previously, daylight penetrated into the gallery from windows located above the passages in the walkway. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns from the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-domed tops of the outrigger lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of a cathedral.

The floor of the gallery is made of brick in a herringbone pattern. Bricks from the 16th century have been preserved here. - darker and more resistant to abrasion than modern restoration bricks.

Gallery painting

The vault of the western section of the gallery is covered with a flat brick ceiling. It demonstrates a unique for the 16th century. engineering technique for constructing a floor: many small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of figured bricks.

In this area, the floor is laid out with a special “rosette” pattern, and on the walls the original painting has been recreated, imitating brickwork. The size of the drawn bricks corresponds to the real ones.

Two galleries unite the chapels of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms create the impression of a “city of churches”. After passing through the labyrinth of the internal gallery, you can get to the porch areas of the cathedral. Their vaults are “carpets of flowers,” the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the attention of visitors.

On the upper platform of the right porch in front of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the bases of pillars or columns have been preserved - the remains of the decoration of the entrance. This is due to the special role of the church in the complex ideological program of the cathedral’s dedications.

Church of Alexander Svirsky

Dome of the Church of Alexander Svirsky

The southeastern church was consecrated in the name of St. Alexander of Svirsky.

In 1552, on the day of memory of Alexander Svirsky, one of the important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich Yapancha on the Arsk field.

This is one of four small churches 15 m high. Its base - a quadrangle - turns into a low octagon and ends with a cylindrical light drum and a vault.

The original appearance of the church interior was restored during restoration work in the 1920s and 1979-1980s: a brick floor with a herringbone pattern, profiled cornices, stepped window sills. The walls of the church are covered with paintings imitating brickwork. The dome depicts a “brick” spiral - a symbol of eternity.

The iconostasis of the church has been reconstructed. Icons from the 16th - early 18th centuries are located between the wooden beams (tyablas) close to each other. The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with hanging shrouds, skillfully embroidered by craftswomen. On the velvet shrouds there is a traditional image of the Calvary cross.

Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

Royal doors of the iconostasis of the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of St. Varlaam of Khutyn.

This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 15.2 m. Its base has the shape of a quadrangle, elongated from north to south with the apse shifted to the south. The violation of symmetry in the construction of the temple is caused by the need to create a passage between the small church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God.

The four turns into a low eight. The cylindrical light drum is covered with a vault. The church is illuminated by the oldest chandelier in the cathedral from the 15th century. A century later, Russian craftsmen supplemented the work of the Nuremberg masters with a pommel in the shape of a double-headed eagle.

The Tyablo iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons from the 16th – 18th centuries. A feature of the church's architecture - the irregular shape of the apse - determined the shift of the Royal Doors to the right.

Of particular interest is the separately hanging icon “Vision of Sexton Tarasius”. It was written in Novgorod at the end of the 16th century. The plot of the icon is based on the legend about the vision of the sexton of the Khutyn monastery of disasters threatening Novgorod: floods, fires, “pestilence”.

The icon painter depicted the panorama of the city with topographical accuracy. The composition organically includes scenes of fishing, plowing and sowing, telling about the daily life of the ancient Novgorodians.

Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

Royal Doors of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

The Western Church was consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.

One of the four large churches is an octagonal two-tier pillar covered with a vault. The temple is distinguished by its large size and the solemn nature of its decorative decoration.

During the restoration, fragments of architectural decoration from the 16th century were discovered. Their original appearance has been preserved without restoration of damaged parts. No ancient paintings were found in the church. The whiteness of the walls emphasizes the architectural details, executed by architects with great creative imagination. Above the northern entrance there is a trace left by a shell that hit the wall in October 1917.

The current iconostasis was moved in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which give lightness to the four-tier structure. In the middle of the 19th century. The iconostasis was supplemented with wooden carved details. The icons in the bottom row tell the story of the Creation of the world.

The church displays one of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral - the icon “St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life of the 17th century. The icon, unique in its iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

In the middle of the icon the noble prince is represented, and around him there are 33 stamps with scenes from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: the Battle of the Neva, the prince’s trip to the Khan’s headquarters, the Battle of Kulikovo).

Church of Gregory of Armenia

The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of St. Gregory, the enlightener of Great Armenia (died in 335). He converted the king and the entire country to Christianity, and was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is celebrated on September 30 (October 13 n.st.). In 1552, on this day, an important event in the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arsk Tower in Kazan.

One of the four small churches of the cathedral (15m high) is a quadrangle, turning into a low octagon. Its base is elongated from north to south with a displacement of the apse. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to create a passage between this church and the central one - the Intercession of Our Lady. The light drum is covered with a vault.

The architectural decoration of the 16th century has been restored in the church: ancient windows, half-columns, cornices, brick floor laid out in a herringbone pattern. As in the 17th century, the walls are whitewashed, which emphasizes the severity and beauty of the architectural details.

The tyablovy (tyablas are wooden beams with grooves between which icons were attached) iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. It consists of windows from the 16th-17th centuries. The Royal Doors are shifted to the left - due to a violation of the symmetry of the internal space.

In the local row of the iconostasis is the image of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. Its appearance is connected with the desire of the wealthy investor Ivan Kislinsky to re-consecrate this chapel in honor of his heavenly patron (1788). In the 1920s the church was returned to its former name.

The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with silk and velvet shrouds depicting Calvary crosses. The interior of the church is complemented by the so-called “skinny” candles - large wooden painted candlesticks of an antique shape. In their upper part there is a metal base in which thin candles were placed.

The display case contains items of priestly vestments from the 17th century: a surplice and a phelonion, embroidered with gold threads. The 19th century candilo, decorated with multi-colored enamel, gives the church a special elegance.

Church of Cyprian and Justina

Dome of the Church of Cyprian and Justina

The northern church of the cathedral has an unusual dedication for Russian churches in the name of the Christian martyrs Cyprian and Justina, who lived in the 4th century. Their memory is celebrated on October 2 (15). On this day in 1552, the troops of Tsar Ivan IV took Kazan by storm.

This is one of the four large churches of the Intercession Cathedral. Its height is 20.9 m. The high octagonal pillar is completed with a light drum and a dome, which depicts Our Lady of the Burning Bush. In the 1780s. Oil painting appeared in the church. On the walls are scenes of the lives of saints: in the lower tier - Adrian and Natalia, in the upper - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of Gospel parables and scenes from the Old Testament.

The appearance of images of martyrs of the 4th century in painting. Adrian and Natalia is associated with the renaming of the church in 1786. Rich investor Natalya Mikhailovna Khrushcheva donated funds for repairs and asked to consecrate the church in honor of her heavenly patrons. At the same time, a gilded iconostasis was made in the style of classicism. It is a magnificent example of skillful wood carving. The bottom row of the iconostasis depicts scenes of the Creation of the World (days one and four).

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities in the cathedral, the church was returned to its original name. Recently, it appeared before visitors updated: in 2007, the wall paintings and iconostasis were restored with the charitable support of the Russian Railways Joint Stock Company.

Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky

Iconostasis of the Church of St. Nicholas of Velikoretsky

The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and subsequently received the name “Nicholas of Velikoretsky”.

In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was brought in a religious procession along the rivers from Vyatka to Moscow. An event of great spiritual significance determined the dedication of one of the chapels of the Intercession Cathedral under construction.

One of the large churches of the cathedral is a two-tier octagonal pillar with a light drum and a vault. Its height is 28 m.

The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during the fire of 1737. In the second half of the 18th century early XIX V. a single complex of decorative and fine arts emerged: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and monumental plot painting of the walls and vault. The lower tier of the octagon presents the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about the bringing of the image to Moscow and illustrations to them.

In the upper tier the Mother of God is depicted on a throne surrounded by prophets, above are the apostles, in the vault is the image of the Savior Almighty.

The iconostasis is richly decorated with stucco floral decoration and gilding. The icons in narrow profiled frames are painted in oil. In the local row there is an image of “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Life” of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with gesso engraving imitating brocade fabric.

The interior of the church is complemented by two external double-sided icons depicting St. Nicholas. They made religious processions around the cathedral.

At the end of the 18th century. The floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During restoration work, a fragment of the original covering made of oak checkers was discovered. This is the only place in the cathedral with a preserved wooden floor.

In 2005-2006 The iconostasis and monumental paintings of the church were restored with the assistance of the Moscow International Currency Exchange.

Holy Trinity Church

The eastern one is consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, after which the entire temple was often named.

One of the four large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octagonal pillar, ending with a light drum and a dome. Its height is 21 m. During the restoration of the 1920s. In this church, the ancient architectural and decorative decoration was most fully restored: half-columns and pilasters framing the entrance arches of the lower part of the octagon, the decorative belt of the arches. In the vault of the dome, a spiral is laid out with small bricks - a symbol of eternity. Stepped window sills in combination with the whitewashed surface of the walls and vault make the Trinity Church especially bright and elegant. Under the light drum, “voices” are built into the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church is illuminated by the oldest chandelier in the cathedral, made in Russia at the end of the 16th century.

Based on restoration studies, the shape of the original, so-called “tyabla” iconostasis (“tyabla” - wooden beams with grooves, between which the icons were fastened close to each other) was established. The peculiarity of the iconostasis is the unusual shape of the low royal doors and three-row icons, forming three canonical orders: prophetic, Deesis and festive.

“Old Testament Trinity” in the local row of the iconostasis is one of the most ancient and revered icons of the cathedral of the second half of the 16th century.

Church of the Three Patriarchs

The northeastern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the three Patriarchs of Constantinople: Alexander, John and Paul the New.

In 1552, on the day of remembrance of the Patriarchs, an important event of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat by the troops of Tsar Ivan the Terrible of the cavalry of the Tatar prince Yapanchi, who was coming from the Crimea to help the Kazan Khanate.

This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 14.9 m. The walls of the quadrangle turn into a low octagon with a cylindrical light drum. The church is interesting for its original ceiling system with a wide dome, in which the composition “The Savior Not Made by Hands” is located.

The wall oil painting was made in the mid-19th century. and reflects in its plots the then change in the name of the church. In connection with the transfer of the throne of the cathedral church of Gregory of Armenia, it was reconsecrated in memory of the enlightener of Great Armenia.

The first tier of the painting is dedicated to the life of St. Gregory of Armenia, in the second tier - the history of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, its bringing to King Abgar in the Asia Minor city of Edessa, as well as scenes from the lives of the Patriarchs of Constantinople.

The five-tier iconostasis combines baroque elements with classical ones. This is the only altar barrier in the cathedral from the mid-19th century. It was made specifically for this church.

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activity, the church was returned to its original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian philanthropists, the management of the Moscow International Currency Exchange contributed to the restoration of the interior of the church in 2007. For the first time in many years, visitors were able to see one of the most interesting churches of the cathedral.

Central Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary

Iconostasis

Interior view of the central dome drum

Bell tower

Bell tower

The modern bell tower of the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of an ancient belfry.

By the second half of the 17th century. the old belfry had become dilapidated and unusable. In the 1680s. it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands today.

The base of the bell tower is a massive high quadrangle, on which an octagon with an open platform is placed. The site is fenced with eight pillars connected by arched spans and crowned with a high octagonal tent.

The ribs of the tent are decorated with multi-colored tiles with white, yellow, blue and brown glaze. The edges are covered with figured green tiles. The tent is completed by a small onion dome with an eight-pointed cross. There are small windows in the tent - the so-called “rumors”, designed to amplify the sound of the bells.

Inside the open area and in the arched openings, bells cast by outstanding Russian craftsmen of the 17th-19th centuries are suspended on thick wooden beams. In 1990, after a long period of silence, they began to be used again.

see also

• The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a memorial temple in memory of Alexander II in St. Petersburg, for which St. Basil's Cathedral served as one of the models

Notes

Literature

• Gilyarovskaya N. St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow: A monument of Russian architecture of the 16th-17th centuries. - M.-L.: Art, 1943. - 12, p. - (Mass Library).(region)
• Volkov A. M. Architects: Novel / Afterword: Doctor of Historical Sciences A. A. Zimin; Drawings by I. Godin. - Reprint. - M.: Children's literature, 1986. - 384 p. - (Library series). - 100,000 copies. (1st edition - )

Links

They freeze in admiration when they see St. Basil's Cathedral, unrivaled in its beauty, next to the Kremlin. This monument of Russian history and culture with its colorful painted domes has long become an integral part of the capital of Russia and its symbol. Official name This attraction is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the Moat. Until the 17th century, the cathedral was called Trinity, since the originally built wooden church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Currently, the cathedral is included in the list of world cultural heritage and is protected by UNESCO.

History of the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral.

The order for the construction of the Intercession Cathedral was given by Ivan the Terrible in honor of the victory over the Kazan Khanate and the storming of the impregnable Kazan fortress. This event took place on the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in honor of which the temple was named. Construction began in 1555 and was completed six years later. Reliable information about the architects who built the cathedral has not been preserved. Most researchers are inclined to believe that this is the work of the Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, who had the nickname Barma.

After the addition of St. Basil's Church to the existing churches in 1588, the cathedral acquired its name. According to the author's plan, the ensemble of temples was a symbol of Heavenly Jerusalem. At the end of the 16th century, instead of the burnt church coverings, figured domes, familiar to our eyes, appeared.

In the 80s of the 17th century, porches decorated with tents were erected over the stairs leading to the temple, and the open gallery surrounding the cathedral acquired vaults. The craftsmen used herbal motifs to paint the surface of the gallery, and during restoration work in the first half of the 19th century, a cast-iron fence was installed around the cathedral.

Since the first days of Soviet power, St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow has been under state protection, although until 1923 it was in disrepair. After the creation of a historical and architectural museum there, major construction work was done and collections were completed. On May 21, 1923, the first visitors crossed its threshold. Since 1928 it has been a branch of the State Historical Museum. At the end of 1929, the bells were removed from the temple and services were prohibited. During the Great Patriotic War, the museum was closed, but after its end and regular restoration activities, the museum reopened its doors to visitors. The beginning of the 90s of the 20th century was marked by the resumption of church services in the temple. Since that time, the cathedral has been jointly used by the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The height of St. Basil's Cathedral is 65 meters. But, despite this modest figure, the beauty of the cathedral leaves no one indifferent. Due to the fact that its ensemble includes nine churches built on a common foundation, it is included in the list of the most major cathedrals world in terms of its volume. The uniqueness of the temple is that it does not have a clearly defined main entrance. When you first enter the temple, you can get confused about its layout. But, if you look at it from a bird's eye view, or at its drawing (top view), placed on the wall of one of the churches, everything becomes clear and understandable.

Church of St. Basil's Cathedral.

In the center of the complex there is a pillar-shaped church, consecrated in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The central exits of the main temples surrounding it face the four cardinal directions. Between them, smaller churches were erected, completing the composition. When looking at the entire ensemble from above, you can clearly see two squares turned to each other at an angle and forming a regular eight-pointed star, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sides of the squares themselves, in addition to the four ends of the life-giving cross, meant the firmness of faith. And the unification of churches around the Pillar Church symbolizes the unity of faith and God’s protection extended over Russia. The bell tower, built in 1670, is located a little further away.

Cache in the temple.

Another feature of the unique ensemble is the absence of basements. It was erected on a basement - a complex of premises, the height of the walls of which exceeds six meters, and the thickness reaches more than three meters. There are special openings in its walls that serve to create a constant microclimate in the premises, independent of the time of year. In ancient times, the basement was used as a secret storage for church valuables and the royal treasury. The hiding place could only be accessed from the second floor of the central cathedral via a secret staircase located in the wall. Now there is a storage facility for icons that belong to the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the Moat. The oldest of them is the image of St. Basil, dating from the end of the 16th century.

The entire ensemble is surrounded by a covered bypass gallery, which has long become one with it. Like the inner circumference, it is painted with grass and plant patterns dating back to the 17th century. Their floors are lined with bricks, partly with herringbone masonry, and some areas with a special “rosette” pattern. Interestingly, bricks preserved from the sixteenth century are more resistant to abrasion than those used in restoration work.

St. Basil's Cathedral inside.

The interior decoration of all the nine temples that make up the complex is not similar to one another and differs in the style of painting, color scheme and manner of its execution. Some of the walls are decorated with oil paintings, and some still have frescoes dating back to the sixteenth century. The main wealth of the cathedral is its unique iconostasis, which contains more than four hundred priceless icons dating back to the period of the 16th-19th centuries and belonging to the brushes of Moscow and Novgorod masters.

After the return of the temple to the fold of the Orthodox Church, which occurred on the bright holiday of the Intercession, the museum began to resume the collection of bells. Today you can see nineteen exhibits representing masterpieces of foundry art. The “oldest” of them was cast five years before the capture of Kazan, and the youngest turns twenty years old in 2016. You can see with your own eyes the armor and weapons with which the troops of Ivan the Terrible went to attack the Kazan Kremlin.

In addition to unique icons, inside St. Basil's Cathedral you can see paintings by Russian masters of portrait and landscape painting of the nineteenth century. The pride of the museum exhibition is the collection of ancient handwritten and first-printed books. You can view all the priceless exhibits of the museum and wander around the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin as part of a group excursion, or order an individual visit. It should be remembered that you can take photos and videos by making a separate payment through the museum’s cash desk. Between the basement and the second floor of the temple there are shops where you can buy souvenirs.

This term has other meanings, see Intercession Cathedral (meanings). Orthodox Cathedral Basil's Temple Blessed Cathedral Intercession, which is the Intercession Cathedral on the Moat ... Wikipedia

Intercession Cathedral, also called St. Basil's Cathedral The Intercession Cathedral on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Moscow. A widely known monument of Russian architecture. Until XVII ... Wikipedia

Intercession Cathedral, also called St. Basil's Cathedral The Intercession Cathedral on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Moscow. A widely known monument of Russian architecture. Until XVII ... Wikipedia

Intercession Cathedral - architectural image of the New Jerusalem- The unique Intercession Cathedral became a military temple and at the same time the most complex symbolic embodiment of the Moscow national idea of ​​the Third Rome, representing an architectural image of the biblical New Jerusalem of the Kingdom of God, described in... ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

Intercession Cathedral, built in Moscow in 1555-60 to commemorate the annexation of Kazan to the Russian State University. masters Barma and Postnik (nowadays N.P. Kalinin put forward the hypothesis that this is the same person). V. B. x. presents a composition of 9... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

- (a later and more common name for the Intercession Cathedral on the Moat), in Moscow, on Red Square. An outstanding monument of Russian architecture. Nowadays it is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Built of brick (foundations, plinth and a number of parts made of white... ... Art encyclopedia

Intercession Cathedral is a cathedral in the name of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Intercession Cathedrals Intercession Cathedral Orthodox Cathedral in the city of Bryansk Intercession Cathedral Orthodox Cathedral in the city of Gatchina Leningrad region. Intercession Cathedral Orthodox cathedral in ... ... Wikipedia

POKROVSKY CATHEDRAL, (Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, St. Basil's Cathedral; popular, but later name), in Moscow, on Red Square (see RED SQUARE), a monument of Russian architecture. Built as a monument to victories in the war of conquest... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

St. Basil's Cathedral- (Pokrovsky Cathedral) temple located on Red Square in Moscow. Built in the middle of the 16th century. by decree of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of the Kazan Khanate. On October 1, 1552, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the assault on Kazan began, which... Orthodoxy. Dictionary-reference book

Books

• Intercession Cathedral. St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square, Yukhimenko E.M.. This publication for the first time gives the general reader the opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the history, external and internal appearance of the world-famous monument of Russian architecture - Pokrovsky ...
• Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral) on Red Square (gift edition), Elena Yukhimenko. Beautifully illustrated, large format gift edition in a slipcase. This book will be a wonderful gift. This publication for the first time gives the general reader the opportunity to detail...

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow on Red Square is the main temple of the capital of Russia. Therefore, for many inhabitants of the planet it is a symbol of Russia, just as the Eiffel Tower is for France or the Statue of Liberty for America. Currently, the temple is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Since 1990, it has been included in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.

From the history of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow on Red Square

On October 1, 1552, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God, the assault on Kazan began, which ended in victory for the Russian soldiers. In honor of this victory, by decree of Ivan the Terrible, the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, now known as St. Basil's Cathedral, was founded.

Previously, on the site of the temple there was a church in the name of the Trinity. According to legend, in the crowd among those walking one could often see the holy fool St. Basil the Blessed, who left home in his youth and wandered around the capital. He was known for having the gift of healing and clairvoyance and collecting money for the new Intercession Church. Before his death, he gave the collected money to Ivan the Terrible. The holy fool was buried at the Trinity Church. When the Intercession Church was built, his grave was located at the very wall of the temple. Later, 30 years later, on the orders of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, a new chapel was built, consecrated in honor of St. Basil. Since then, the temple began to be called by the same name. In the old days, the Intercession Cathedral was red and white, and the domes were gold. There were 25 domes: 9 main and 16 small ones, located around the central tent, aisles and bell tower. The central dome had the same complex shape as the side domes. The painting of the temple walls was more complex.

There were very few people inside the temple. Therefore, during the holidays, services were held on Red Square. The Intercession Cathedral served as an altar. Church ministers came to the place of execution, and the sky served as a dome. The temple has a height of 65 meters. Before the construction of the Ivanovo Bell Tower in the Kremlin, it was the tallest in Moscow. After a fire in 1737, the temple was restored, and in the second half of the 18th century, 16 small domes around the towers were removed, and the bell tower was connected to the temple, which became multi-colored.

Throughout its history, the temple was on the verge of destruction several times. According to legend, Napoleon kept his horses in the temple and wanted to move the building to Paris. But at that time it was impossible to do this. Then he decided to blow up the temple. A sudden downpour of rain extinguished the lit wicks and saved the structure. After the revolution, the temple was closed, the bells were melted down, and its rector, Archpriest John Vostorgov, was shot. Lazar Koganovich proposed demolishing the building to open up traffic and hold demonstrations. Only the courage and perseverance of the architect P.D. Baranovsky was saved by the temple. Stalin’s famous phrase “Lazarus, put him in his place!” and the decision to demolish it was reversed.

How many domes are there on St. Basil's Cathedral

The temple was built in 1552-1554. at a time when there was a war with the Golden Horde for the conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan kingdoms. After each victory, a wooden church was built in honor of the saint whose memory day was celebrated on that day. Also, some temples were built in honor of significant events. By the end of the war, there were 8 churches on one site. Saint Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow advised the tsar to build one temple in stone with a common foundation. In 1555-1561 The architects Barma and Yakovlev built eight temples on one foundation: four of them are axial and four smaller ones between them. All of them are different in architectural decoration and have onion domes decorated with cornices, kokoshniks, windows, and niches. In the center stands the ninth church with a small dome in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God. In the 17th century, a bell tower with a hipped dome was built. Considering this dome, there are 10 domes on the temple.

• The northern church was consecrated in the name of Cyprian and Ustina, and later in the name of St. Andrian and Natalia.
• The eastern church is consecrated in the name of the Trinity. The southern church is in the name of Nikola Velikoretsky.
• The Western Church was consecrated in the name of the Entry into Jerusalem in memory of the return of the army of Ivan the Terrible to Moscow.
• The northeastern church was consecrated in the name of the Three Patriarchs of Alexandria.
• The southeastern church is in the name of Alexander Svirsky.
• Southwestern Church - in the name of Varlaam Khutynsky.
• Northwestern - in the name of Gregory of Armenia.

Eight chapters, built around the central ninth, form a figure in plan, consisting of two squares located at an angle of 45 degrees and representing an eight-pointed star. The number 8 symbolizes the day of the Resurrection of Christ, and the eight-pointed star is a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The square means firmness and constancy of faith. Its four sides mean the four cardinal directions and the four ends of the cross, the four evangelist apostles. The central temple unites the rest of the churches and symbolizes patronage over all of Russia.

Museum in St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow on Red Square

Now the temple is open as a museum. Its visitors can climb the spiral staircase and admire the iconostases, which contain icons from the 16th to 19th centuries and see the patterns of the internal gallery. The walls are decorated with oil paintings and frescoes from the 16th to 19th centuries. The museum displays portrait and landscape paintings, as well as church utensils from the 16th to 19th centuries. There are opinions that it is necessary to preserve St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow not just as a monument of extraordinary beauty, but also as an Orthodox shrine.