Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin: opening hours, address, history of creation and photos

Surely, every traveler before a tour of Moscow churches wonders how many cathedrals there are in the Moscow Kremlin . This question also interested me, especially since I was going to study the material, as they say, in the field. It turned out that the difficulty lies precisely in what is meant by a cathedral. For example, many highlight the St. Sophia Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, although in fact the Temple of Sophia the Wisdom of God is not such, and is located not in the Kremlin itself, but on the contrary. At the same time, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great is considered a full-fledged cathedral. Below I will tell you the situation as I saw it myself, describe the temples and cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin with photos and names, and also share my impressions of what I saw.

Description

The Patriarchal Chambers were built in 1653-1658.
The best craftsmen of stone hipped temples - Antip Konstantinov and Bazhen Ogurtsov - were invited to carry out the work. The interior paintings were done by painters from Yaroslavl and Kostroma, as well as the best royal icon painters. The first floor of the building was occupied by the clerks of many orders, and there were also utility rooms here. On the second floor there was a church in the name of the Apostle Philip and ceremonial halls, including the Chamber of the Cross, or the Chrism (myrrh, an aromatic oil used for baptism and lighting of churches, was prepared here). The architecture of the Mirovaryna is unique - the hall has an area of ​​280 sq. meters was covered with a vault that did not have a central support.

On the third floor were the chambers of Patriarch Nikon.

There is a legend that on the fourth floor, where there were only two rooms, the young Petrusha, the future Emperor Peter the Great, was hiding from the archers. From these events he retained a nervous tic that arose in moments of great excitement.

At that time, the three-story building was huge. The building was built as a single block and even the Church of the Twelve Apostles forms a single whole with the entire structure. The temple, located on the second floor level, is located on beautiful passage arches.

In their beauty and luxury, the Patriarchal Chambers were not inferior to the royal Terem chambers. Later, when the patriarch was tried, the Patriarchal Palace was presented as an example of his extraordinary pride and desire to become equal to the king.

Throughout its history, the Patriarchal Chambers have changed many times. Reconstruction was carried out after a severe fire in 1682. At the same time, the Church of Philippi was rebuilt into a new temple of the Twelve Apostles, which became the home church of the church hierarchs.

The walls of the temple were decorated with unusually beautiful paintings, the floor was covered with ceramic tiles, and the installed iconostasis, originally intended for the Ascension Monastery of the Kremlin, was magnificent.

In 1690, an open gallery was added to the building from the side of Cathedral Square, leading to the church from the living quarters.

However, Peter the Great abolished the patriarchate in 1721. The Holy Synod became the highest state body of church administrative power. Essentially, the church lost its independence and was controlled by the emperor. Under the new owners, the building was rebuilt and lost its original appearance.

The historic building was heavily damaged during artillery shelling in November 1917. In 1918, the Holy Synod was liquidated, and its powers were transferred to the patriarch.

Interestingly, the architecture of the temple and interior interiors were recreated during Soviet times. Thus, the second passage arch was opened in 1920, and the open gallery two years later. The palace's white stone floors and ceramic tiles were restored in 1950. Also in the 1950-1960s, many architectural elements and a significant part of the ancient paintings were restored.

Currently, the historical building houses a museum of applied arts. Authentic objects of royal and patriarchal life are presented here; the museum collection also includes the patriarchal sacristy, one of the oldest repositories of works of art. You will see rare signed icons of the 17th century and jewelry, antique furniture and books, and look at the collection of Russian artistic embroidery of the late 16th–17th centuries. Among the interesting exhibits is a watch given to Ivan the Terrible. Some of them are pocket-sized in the form of a book, others are large tabletop ones.

A visit to the Patriarchal Chambers will be interesting for everyone who loves history and is interested in decorative arts.

Majestic cathedrals

There are several temples located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. They are all unique and have their own history. There are seven in total :

1. The oldest building in Moscow is the Assumption Cathedral.
2. Building in Italian style - Ivan the Great Bell Tower.
3. The best work of masters from Pskov is the Annunciation Cathedral.
4. One of the most beautiful churches is Arkhangelsk.
5. The next object can rightly be called the most mysterious - the Church of the Deposition of the Robe.
6. Church of the Russian Tsars - Verkhospassky Cathedral.
7. Temple of the 12 Apostles.

Anyone who cares about the history of the Russian state should know brief information about these majestic objects.

Uspensky and Ivan the Great Bell Tower

The building of the Assumption Cathedral was built on the site of a previously standing temple that bore the same name. In 1327, during the reign of Ivan Kalita, the first stone church in the history of Rus' was built. Two centuries later, the building lost its beauty and Tsar Ivan III gave the order to dismantle the old temple and build a new one in its place.

Initially, Russian architects took over the work, but during the first earthquake, the almost completed walls were destroyed. Construction was resumed after the Italian architect A. Fiorovanti arrived in Moscow at the invitation of the Tsar. The architect took the Vladimir Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God as a model for the construction of the temple.

The overseas architect easily understood how the dome and five drums could be supported. As support, six columns and arched ceilings at the altar were installed in the upper part of the Assumption Cathedral. Thanks to this, the internal volume has become much wider. Brick was used as construction material, and white stone was used for exterior decoration.

The consecration of the temple took place twice .

• 1471, immediately after construction was completed.
• 1813 - after the French were expelled from Moscow.

The Assumption Church is currently the main cathedral on the territory of the Kremlin. There are regular tours inside it, and religious services are held only occasionally.

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower includes several structures: a church, a tower, an annex and a belfry. Construction of the first temple was completed in 1329. In the 16th century it was dismantled, and a new one was built under the leadership of Fryazin. The height of its bell tower is 60 meters.

The third tier was built by Konev at the beginning of the 17th century, the height of the cathedral increased to 81 meters. After this, the bell tower was considered the tallest building in Moscow for a long time.

During World War II, the French tried to blow up the temple complex. The church and belfry were damaged; they were restored in the post-war years.

Now part of the temple territory is occupied by museum exhibitions, and services are held in the second

Arkhangelsky and Verkhospassky

The Archangel Cathedral is the ancestral tomb of Russian rulers. This tradition was first introduced during the reign of Vasily III. During his time, the building was completely built and it has survived to this day.

According to historians, previously there were small wooden churches on this site, which first appeared in the middle of the 13th century. Construction of the stone cathedral began under Ivan III; a few days before his death, he laid its first stone. Further construction was carried out under the supervision of his son Vasily .

The Italian architect Fryazin, who built 11 churches in Rus', took part in the design of the new building. The Archangel Cathedral was first consecrated in 1508. Now this is the largest burial place of the royal families in the Kremlin.

Verkhospassky Cathedral is a house church, that is, it is a small consecrated room in which private services were held. Similar chambers were often used by the Russian nobility; they were also installed in the royal chambers. The church is currently closed to visitors and there are no services taking place there.

Annunciation and Church of the 12 Apostles

After several improvements, the appearance of the Annunciation Church of the Moscow Kremlin was formed. It was originally built at the beginning of the 15th century by Pskov craftsmen. Initially the temple had three domes.

Its appearance was significantly changed during the reign of Ivan IV, as a result the total number of domes increased to nine. A special extension was erected on the southern side, from where the king listened to divine services.

No expense was ever spared in decorating the church. The best masters worked on the design, including Andrei Rublev and Feofan the Greek. Today anyone can enter the temple; in addition, there is a museum of Kremlin antiquities on its territory.

The Temple of the 12 Apostles, together with the patriarchal chambers, forms a single whole. The history of its construction is closely connected with the development of the Moscow Patriarchate. The construction of the stone building began in the middle of the 15th century. Due to frequent fires, the building was periodically destroyed, but the craftsmen built it again, each time adding new chambers.

In 1652, on the initiative of Patriarch Nikon, the reconstruction of the cathedral building began, which was completed in 1656. Almost all churches and other premises were completely dismantled, and new ones were built in their place. In 1681, the cathedral was consecrated in honor of the 12 apostles. Currently, the temple has a museum that is always open to the public.

Church of the Deposition of the Robe

The modern building of the Orthodox church was erected on the site of a church that burned down at the end of the 15th century. It received its name in honor of the unsuccessful attempt to capture Moscow by enemies led by the great-grandson of Khan Tokhtamysh. The city was saved on July 2, 1451 - the day when the robe of the Mother of God arrived in Constantinople.

Patriarch Job took the initiative to name the temple in honor of this date.

Today, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe houses a museum, and services are held there only once a year.

To write a report about the Moscow Kremlin in the 4th grade, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this topic in detail and then the story about the temples will turn out to be very interesting.

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin - “altars of Russia”

Today the Moscow Kremlin is both the place of work of the President of the Russian Federation and a historical and cultural museum. The historical center of the Kremlin is represented by Cathedral Square with three cathedrals

— Uspensky, Arkhangelsk and Blagoveshchensky. An old proverb says: “The Kremlin rises above Moscow, and above the Kremlin there is only the sky.” That is why all the people honored the tsar’s decrees, which he proclaimed in the Assumption Cathedral.

This temple can rightfully be called the “altar of Russia.” In the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, kings were crowned kings, the next head of the Russian church was elected, and in the tombs of the temple the relics of Moscow saints found eternal rest. The Archangel Cathedral, from 1340 until the 18th century, served as the tomb of Moscow princes and kings.

Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

Under its arches, tombstones are placed in strict order on white stone slabs. The Annunciation Cathedral was the personal house of prayer for the Moscow princes: here they were baptized, confessed, and got married. According to legend, the grand ducal treasury was kept in the basement of this temple. The Cathedral Square is surrounded by the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Faceted and Patriarchal Chambers. Meetings of the Boyar Duma and Zemsky Sobors were held in the Faceted Chamber, and the office of the Holy Synod was located in the Patriarchal Palace.

Intercession Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (St. Basil's Cathedral)

1. Built in the middle of the 16th century by order of Ivan IV the Terrible, to commemorate the capture of Kazan, which occurred on the day of the celebration of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2. It consists of nine separate churches, the throne of each of which is consecrated in honor of a specific holiday.
3. At the end of the century, a tenth church was added to the cathedral, erected in honor of the famous Moscow holy fool and soothsayer St. Basil the Blessed . This temple gave the cathedral its second, popular name, under which it is known throughout the world.
4. Over the centuries, the cathedral was rebuilt and updated many times. After the revolution, the question of demolishing the shrine was even raised, but it was defended.
5. Currently, the cathedral welcomes visitors as a museum, and irregular services are also held there.

What can you see in the square

On a clear day, the gold-covered domes of ancient churches shine on Cathedral Square. The very first to appear on it was the Assumption Cathedral.

A wooden church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God has stood here since ancient times, and the first stone cathedral was erected in the 13th century. When Ivan Kalita ruled the country, the temple was rebuilt (1326-1327). The cathedral that has survived to this day was built in the 1470s according to the design of the famous Italian architect and engineer Ridolfo Aristotle Fioravanti. Until 1917, it had the status of the main cathedral of Russia.

For centuries, one of the Orthodox shrines was kept inside this temple - the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir. Today the famous image is exhibited in the Tretyakov Gallery. In the cathedral you can see 19 tombs where church hierarchs are buried. On some days, with the blessing of the patriarch, divine services are held in the temple.

View of the Archangel Cathedral from the Faceted Chamber

The Assumption Cathedral set the compositional basis for the entire square, and other buildings were built on it, focusing on the architecture of this five-domed giant. In the 1480s, architects invited from Pskov erected another cathedral next to the Assumption - the Annunciation Cathedral. Experts are confident that they did not build it from scratch. Since the end of the 13th century, a wooden Annunciation Church stood in the Kremlin, which the Moscow tsars used as a house church. In the middle of the 16th century, the three-domed Annunciation Cathedral was made nine-domed, and this gave it a very festive look.

Today, inside the Annunciation Cathedral you can see frescoes and icons made by famous Russian isographers - Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublev. It is curious that on the porch of the cathedral there are images of Aristotle, Plutarch, Ptolemy, Homer and other famous Greeks. The attractions of the temple are the inlaid floor with bright splashes of jasper and agate, as well as luxurious forged lamps. In addition, the cathedral houses exhibitions of an interesting museum of treasures and antiquities.

View of the Annunciation Cathedral from the Ivan the Great Bell Tower

Opposite Blagoveshchensky stands the majestic Archangel Cathedral. A wooden church dedicated to the Archangel Michael has existed on the Kremlin hill since the mid-13th century. The cathedral that can be seen today was built at the beginning of the 16th century. The author of its project was the famous Italian architect Aleviz Novy. The building of the Archangel Cathedral, like nowhere else in the Kremlin, embodies the traditions of the Italian Renaissance.

In the main Grand Ducal Cathedral there are 54 tombs, where the Rurikovichs and Romanovs from Ivan Kalita to the father of Peter I - Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich are buried.

The walls of the ancient church are decorated with skillful paintings. And on the large iconostasis there are many images painted under the guidance of one of the best masters of the Armory, Fyodor Zubov.

Metropolitans and patriarchs also had their own home church. This is the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, built in the 1480s. In the 17th century, the temple was connected by passages to the princely chambers and completely rebuilt. Today, in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe there is a permanent exhibition of ancient wooden sculpture.

View of the Faceted Chamber from the Annunciation Cathedral

On the border of Ivanovskaya Square rises the bell tower of Ivan the Great. Its architectural ensemble consists of three buildings - the bell tower itself, the Filaretov extension and the Assumption Belfry. There are 21 bells here and a museum telling about the history of Kremlin architecture.

On Cathedral Square there are also civil buildings - the Patriarchal Palace and the building of the Faceted Chamber. The Patriarchal Palace has been used as a museum since 1918. Today you can see rich collections of ancient sewing, forged items, jewelry, items from the patriarchal and royal treasury, and fragments of wall paintings of the 17th century.

For a long time, the faceted chamber could only be viewed from the outside. But since 2012, after restoration, it was opened for excursions. Furniture, inlaid parquet flooring, carpets and beautiful frescoes that are painted on the walls and vaults of the ancient building are exhibited here. Russian guns from the time of Peter I have been installed near Cathedral Square since the 19th century. The guns were made at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries and today are kept as monuments of military glory. Until 2012, these guns could be seen next to the Arsenal building.

From left to right: Verkhospassky Cathedral and Church of the Deposition of the Robe, view from Cathedral Square

Assumption Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral is a cathedral located on Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin. Built in 1475-1479. under the leadership of the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti. The first cathedral on this site was built in the 14th century, during the reign of Ivan I. When a hundred years later the cathedral became very dilapidated, the construction of a new cathedral was entrusted to the Russian architects Krivtsov and Myshkin. The construction, which began in 1472, was not completed, since the temple, which had been built to the vaults, collapsed after the earthquake that occurred in Moscow on May 20, 1474. After this, Ivan III invited the architect Aristotle Fioravanti from Italy, who built the existing cathedral building. The cathedral was built in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir. The original paintings of the cathedral were completed between 1482 and 1515. The famous icon painter Dionysius took part in the painting. In 1642-1644. The cathedral was painted anew; the old paintings were practically not preserved. In 1547, the cathedral hosted the coronation of the first Russian Tsar, Ivan IV, and since 1721 the cathedral has become the site of the coronation of Russian emperors. Closed to access and worship in 1918, opened as a museum in 1955. Since 1990, services have been held on some holidays with the blessing of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Up Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia ru.wikipedia.org

Cathedral of the Archangel

The Archangel Cathedral is a cathedral located on the cathedral square of the Moscow Kremlin. The cathedral was built in 1505-1508. under the leadership of the Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin on the foundation of the old cathedral of the 14th century. Motifs of Italian Renaissance architecture are widely used in the decoration of the walls. The cathedral contains frescoes from the 15th-16th centuries, as well as a wooden iconostasis with icons from the 17th-19th centuries. The surviving painting of the cathedral was made in 1652-1666 (Yakov Kazanets, Stepan Ryazanets, Joseph Vladimirov). From 1340 to 1730, the Archangel Cathedral served as the tomb of the Moscow Grand Dukes (then Russian Tsars) and their male relatives. In total, there are 54 burials in the cathedral, including the shrines of saints Tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich and Mikhail of Chernigov. In 1928, the burials of women from the Rurik and Romanov dynasties were also moved to the crypt of the Archangel Cathedral (previously, relatives of the Grand Dukes and Tsars rested in the demolished Ascension Cathedral of the convent). Up Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia ru.wikipedia.org

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya is the oldest surviving architectural monument of the Moscow Kremlin. It was built in 1393-1394. commissioned by the widow of Dmitry Donskoy, Princess Evdokia, presumably in memory of the Battle of Kulikovo. This is evidenced by the dedication of the temple to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which according to the Christian calendar coincides with the date of the Battle of Kulikovo. The new church took the place of the wooden Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus and was located in the female half of the princely palace as a house church. Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya Built of white stone, the four-pillar, three-apse church has been preserved up to half the height of the walls with the main portal and part of the windows. The western pillars, round in plan, carry a vaulted choir ceiling, the presence of which is confirmed by an internal staircase located in the north-west corner. The architecture of the temple combines the features of the Vladimir-Suzdal (round pillars, portal frame, blades) and early Moscow architectural schools. The keel-shaped ends of the portal and niches and rose windows indicate that they belong to the latter. In 1395, the temple was painted by Theophanes the Greek and Daniil Cherny with their disciples. In 1479, probably due to a fire, the top of the building collapsed, but the church was soon rebuilt. The building underwent a radical restructuring in 1681-1684. under Fyodor Alekseevich, when the Alevizovsky temple was replaced by the single-domed Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya with a church with a rectangular altar and a refectory on the western side. The Lazarevsky chapel was abolished, and in the 18th century. the basement turns into a storage room. When the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace began in 1838, the side church of Lazarus in the ancient basement was restored, and eclectic details in the style of the 17th century were introduced into the architectural design of the temple. In 1923-1928. and in 1949-1952. A fundamental restoration of the oldest monument of the Kremlin and Moscow, preserved in the basement level, was carried out. Up vmoskvy.ru

Ivan the Great belltower

The Bell Tower of Ivan the Great (obsolete Ivan the Great) is a church in the Moscow Kremlin, 81 meters high. In 1329, the Church of St. John the Climacus was built on this site. In 1505, the church was dismantled, and in its place Bon Fryazin built a new church. In 1532-1543, the architect Petrok Maly added a rectangular belfry with the Church of the Ascension to the north side of the church. In 1600, under Tsar Boris Godunov, another one was added to the two tiers of the bell tower of St. John the Climacus, after which the bell tower acquired its modern appearance. Until the end of the 19th century, when the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower remained the tallest building in Moscow. In 1812, the French blew up the outbuildings of Ivan the Great, which were later rebuilt, but in a different form. There are 34 bells in total: Uspensky, the largest, then Reut, or Revun. Other bells: Bear - the oldest (1501), Tatar, Swan, Golodar, Korsun, etc. Up Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia ru.wikipedia.org

St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral (the original name was the Intercession Cathedral on the Moat, popularly had another name - Jerusalem) - an outstanding monument of Russian architecture, located on Red Square in Moscow. A symbol of Russia’s connection with Europe and Asia. The cathedral was built in 1555-60 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 involved in the construction. According to the third version, the cathedral was built by an unknown Western European master (presumably an 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. 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. St. Basil's Cathedral consists of eight separate churches, symbolizing the days of the decisive battles for Kazan: Trinity, Nicholas Velikoretsky, Entrance to Jerusalem, Cyprian and Ustinia, Three Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexander Svirsky, Varlaam Khutynsky, Gregory of Armenia. All these eight churches (four axial, four smaller ones between them) are crowned with onion domes and grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped Church of the Intercession, topped with a tent with a small dome, rising above them. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages. In 1588, the St. Basil's chapel was added to the cathedral, giving the entire structure its second, now more common name. A tented bell tower was built in the 1670s. The cathedral has been restored several times. In the 17th century, asymmetrical extensions were added, tents over the porches, intricate decorative treatment of the domes (originally they were gold), and ornamental paintings outside and inside (originally the cathedral itself was white). In 1929 it was closed and the bells were removed. Since 1990, the temple-museum began collecting bells again. Currently, this collection is one of the richest active collections not only in Moscow, but also in Russia. In total, the museum has 19 bells, created in 1547-1996 (places of casting: the Urals, Yaroslavl, Moscow, as well as France, Holland, Germany, Western Belarus). The bells were cast by such famous masters as Fyodor and Ivan Motorin, Semyon Mozhzhukhin, P. I. Olovyashnikov, P. N. Finlyandsky, A. A. Samgin. The cathedral also has an interesting collection of weapons from the times of Ivan the Terrible. Interesting facts * St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most famous Russian landmarks. It is St. Basil's Cathedral that is a symbol of Russia and Moscow for many inhabitants of planet Earth (the same as the Eiffel Tower for France and Paris, the Statue of Liberty for the USA and New York, Big Ben for England and London). * Since 1991, irregular services have been held in the temple. * Currently, St. Basil's Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. * In front of the temple there is a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky. * In St. Petersburg there is a twin temple reminiscent of St. Basil's Cathedral - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ (1907), the second name is “Savior on Spilled Blood”. Up Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia ru.wikipedia.org

Church of the Deposition of the Robe

The Church of the Deposition of the Robe in the Moscow Kremlin was built in 1484 by Psovsky and Moscow craftsmen from brick and white stone. In the northwestern corner of the square, hidden behind the Faceted Chamber and the bulk of the Assumption Cathedral, stands a small single-domed elegant church. The first mention of it dates back to the middle of the 15th century, when important events happened in the life of the Russian state. In 1448, Moscow for the first time, without the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople, elected the head of the Russian church, Metropolitan Jonah. This was a serious step towards establishing the complete independence of the Moscow state. And in 1451, King Casimir of Lithuania and Poland, who owned the southwestern Russian lands, was forced, after a long break, to recognize Metropolitan Jonah of Moscow as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus'. This was the West's official recognition of Moscow's increased power. It is possible that it was in honor of such significant events that the new church was erected. Its laying took place on July 2, the day of the Christian holiday of the transfer of the robe of the Mother of God from Palestine to Constantinople. The transfer, according to legend, took place in the middle of the 5th century, but every year this event was solemnly celebrated. In honor of the holiday, the new church received the name “Position of the Robe of the Mother of God,” that is, “Deposition of the Robe.” The church was erected near the new stone metropolitan palace - the first stone civil building in the Kremlin. It immediately became the home church of Russian metropolitans. However, the severe Moscow fire of 1473 significantly damaged both the stone palace and the new church. In 1484, Metropolitan Gerontius laid a new one on the site of the damaged church, entrusting all the work to experienced Pskov craftsmen. It is curious that the construction of new house churches for the Grand Duke and Metropolitan begins simultaneously. On a high, spacious basement, possibly intended for storing the metropolitan treasury, Pskov architects erected a small, slender and light three-apse temple with a wide walkway. In the middle of the 17th century, the northern walkway was blocked and a transition was made from the Tsarina’s chambers to the Assumption Cathedral. In the 18th century, the church was built with small chapels on the south and west, and in the 19th century, the mosquito roof was replaced with a regular hipped roof. And only in Soviet times the ancient architectural monument was returned to its original appearance. Restoration work began in 1919 and lasted intermittently for more than four decades. Up russia.rin.ru

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

The Annunciation Cathedral is a cathedral located on the cathedral square of the Moscow Kremlin. The southwestern corner of Cathedral Square is closed by the nine-domed Annunciation Cathedral, which is picturesque in silhouette. Small, but at the same time majestic and monumental, it seems to fit into a slender, narrow pyramid with a top sparkling with the gold of domes. If the Assumption Cathedral was the main temple of the principality, and then the state, the temple where all the most important political and spiritual ceremonies took place in a solemn atmosphere, then the small Annunciation Cathedral, perched not far from the palace of the Moscow rulers, very soon became their immediate home church. Built in 1489 by Pskov craftsmen on the site of an old cathedral from the early 15th century, it was originally three-domed. The cathedral was seriously damaged in a fire in 1547 and restored in 1564, with the addition of two domes on the west side. In 1572, a porch was added to the cathedral, which later received the name Grozny. The cathedral partially preserves a painting made in 1508 by the artist Theodosius, son of Dionysius, “with the brethren.” The iconostasis of the cathedral contains icons painted in 1405 by Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek. Grand Duke Ivan III, who took the title of “Sovereign of All Rus',” rebuilds the Moscow Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral was also rebuilt in 1484. But if the walls and towers of the Kremlin, the Assumption Cathedral and palace mansions were entrusted to Italian craftsmen, then the sovereign ordered the construction of his own house church by Russian architects from Pskov. The construction of the Annunciation Cathedral lasted five years. Only in August 1489, freed from the forests, did it open in all its glory to the eyes of Muscovites. On a high basement, a snow-white, three-apse, three-domed temple rose to the sky, surrounded from the south, west and north by a covered gallery. Having decorated the drums of the chapters in a purely pop-style way - with a runner and a curb laid out of brick, the craftsmen placed an arcature belt on the apses, as if repeating a similar belt on the Assumption Cathedral, thereby linking the two buildings into a single ensemble. Ivan IV, having accepted the title of Tsar, again rebuilt the Annunciation Cathedral. It is characteristic that the work began in 1563, shortly after the liberation of the ancient Russian city of Polotsk from foreigners. By order of the tsar, in honor of the victory over the enemies, four small single-domed chapel churches were erected at the four corners of the covered gallery of the cathedral. On the eastern side of the roof, two more drums with domes were built, thus turning the three-domed temple into a majestic nine-domed one. Three gates—on the north, west and south sides—lead from the gallery to the temple. The northern and western portals, rebuilt in the 16th century, are decorated with subtle and complex Italian ornaments, reminiscent of the decorative pattern of the portals of the Faceted Chamber and the Archangel Cathedral. This gilded ornament on a blue background is beautiful, but still seems cold and alien in comparison with the open pillar in the southern gallery, where restorers have cleared away the elegant polychrome painting. Up Nenarokomova I.S. State museums of the Moscow Kremlin. M. Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia ru.wikipedia.org

Patriarchal Chambers with the Church of the Twelve Apostles

The Patriarchal Chambers were built by Russian craftsmen in 1653-1655 for Patriarch Nikon. The first floor of the palace was occupied by economic services, the third - the personal chambers of the patriarch. The ceremonial rooms were located on the second floor. The main one among them is the Cross, or Myrrh Chamber, where meetings of the Holy Council were held and feasts were held in honor of the Tsar and foreign guests. In the 18th-19th centuries, the Moscow Synodal Office was located in the Patriarchal Chambers. Today in the Patriarchal Chambers there is an exhibition telling about the characteristic features of Russian culture of the 17th century. The precious dishes, jewelry, royal hunting items, antique furniture, and monuments of gold embroidery presented here were created by masters of Russia, Western and Eastern countries. Most of them were made in national traditions by masters of the Moscow Kremlin, as well as Yaroslavl, Kostroma and other cities. They talk about one of the most important periods in the history of our country, when on the eve of Peter’s reforms in Rus' the worldview, culture and entire way of life changed. In the house church of the Twelve Apostles, the carved gilded iconostasis from the turn of the 17th-18th centuries is of particular interest. This is a wonderful example of the art of wood carving, which is distinguished by its special plastic expressiveness. The church houses an exhibition of icons, telling about the evolution of icon painting throughout the century. New trends in painting are clearly evidenced by the works of leading court isographers - Simon Ushakov and Fyodor Zubov. The museum's exposition tells about the artistic tastes of Russian society of the 17th century, about the uniqueness of the spiritual life of Rus', which stood on the threshold of the New Age. Up pif.ilca.ru

Verkhospassky Cathedral and Terem churches

On the territory of the Moscow Kremlin on the eastern side of the Terem Palace there is a group of house churches separated from the Terems by the Front Stone Courtyard.
The earliest of them, Catherine's Church - the home temple of queens and princesses - was built of brick in 1627 by John Thaler. It is located on the same level as the Golden Queen's Chamber on its northern side. From the west and north, the church was surrounded by a gallery, and a staircase located between the temple and the Tsarina's Chamber led to the Front Stone Courtyard. In 1654, the Church of Evdokia was erected above the Catherine Church. Further reconstructions completely modified these temples.

The home church of the kings - the Savior Not Made by Hands with a lower chapel of John of Belogorodsky, later called the Verkhospassky Cathedral with the chapel of John the Baptist - was built in 1635-1636. simultaneously with the Terem Palace on the eastern side of the Front Stone Courtyard. It was erected by the same masters B. Ogurtsov, A. Konstantinov, T. Sharutin and L. Ushakov. The quadrangle of the temple with the chapel on the north side was built over the Golden Queen's Chamber and after the construction of the cathedral refectory above its vestibule in 1663, it formed a single volume with the chamber. The front stone courtyard became known as the Verkhospasskaya platform.

In 1679-1682. The complex of palace temples is being significantly rebuilt. A small church of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, also called the Crucifixion, was erected. To increase its area, the gap between the chapel and the Church of Evdokia, renamed the Church of the Resurrection of the Word, is being built up. After this, the tops of all three temples are leveled with a common cornice under a single roof. The reconstruction of the temple complex was carried out by the architect Osip Startsev. The temple complex underwent the next significant restructuring during the construction of the Grand Kremlin Palace in the 1840s, after which the Verkhospassky temple complex lost its former isolation of architectural volume. The restoration carried out on the monument in the 1920s, 1940s and 1960s partially returned it to its ancient appearance, especially from the northern façade.

Despite numerous reconstructions and renovations, the churches have preserved unique examples of decorative interior decoration: carved gilded iconostases of the second half of the 17th century. with icons of the same time in the Verkhospassky Cathedral and the Church of the Resurrection of the Word, as well as carved gilded choirs in the latter. The iconostasis of the Church of the Crucifixion is unique - “chased copper in wooden columns” and icons made using the technique of fabric appliqué in combination with pictorial images. Currently, the palace churches within the Grand Kremlin Palace are part of the Residence of the President of the Russian Federation. Up

vmoskvy.ru

Kazan Cathedral

The Kazan Cathedral, consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, was built on Red Square in the second quarter of the 17th century in gratitude for the deliverance of Russia from the Polish-Lithuanian invaders in 1612 and in memory of the Russian soldiers who died in this war. This is the first temple restored in Moscow from shrines destroyed by the Bolsheviks.

Previously, on the site of the Kazan Cathedral, one of the Trading Rows was located in a stone building. And after the construction of the temple, near its fence they continued to trade - wax candles, baked bread, rolls and apples. Quarrels between traders and buyers were sorted out in the old days at the Poteshny Court in the Kremlin, and for a long time merchants were sworn in in the Kazan Cathedral.

Soon the wooden temple burned down, and was restored from royal brick in 1635 by masters Semyon Glebov and Naum Petrov (according to another version, by the royal master Abrosim Maksimov) and consecrated in October 1636. In the 19th century, the cathedral was rebuilt, but the modern building almost completely corresponds to the original appearance of the cathedral.

If the Intercession Church symbolized the Heavenly Jerusalem, then the Kazan Cathedral can be considered a symbol of the Church Militant. Researchers have noted the similarity of Russian warriors to angelic cavalry, expressed by the colors of the military dress uniform of the 17th century - “gilded armor, red cloaks and white wings with gold tips.” These colors correspond to the description in the Apocalypse of Christ's Heavenly Host fighting the Beast and his false prophet.

Twice a year, on July 8 and October 22, a solemn procession of the cross was held from the Kremlin to the Kazan Cathedral with the participation of the Tsar. With the blessing of the patriarch, part of the clergy, separating from the main procession at the Execution Place, walked “through the cities” - along the fortress walls of Kitay-Gorod, Bely and Zemlyanoy, sprinkling them with holy water.

In the building of the Zemsky Prikaz, which once stood directly opposite the Kazan Cathedral, on the site of the current Historical Museum, on April 26, 1755, the grand opening of Moscow University and two gymnasiums took place. Since the university did not yet have its own house church, the festive prayer service was held in the Kazan Cathedral, and at first students and teachers went to services in this temple. And although the university began searching for its own church immediately, the very first pages of its history turned out to be connected specifically with the Kazan Cathedral.

Here, until 1812, popular prints were sold, and just before Napoleon’s accession, caricatures of the French and their emperor, drawn by artists Terebenev and Yakovlev. All of Moscow was going to relax here, looking at them. The famous anti-Napoleonic, or as they were also called “Rostopchin” posters, written by the Moscow mayor F.F. Rostopchin, who lived in a house on Lubyanka, rebuilt from ... the chambers of Prince Pozharsky, were also distributed here.

In the menacing days of the autumn of 1812, a prayer service for the salvation of the Fatherland was served in front of the Kazan Icon, which was attended by M.I. Kutuzov.

It turned out to be easier for Russia to cope with foreign barbarians than with its own. After the revolution, the cathedral shared the sad fate of most Moscow shrines, which interfered with the implementation of the world revolution. True, in the 20s, the devotee of Russian culture, architect P.D. Baranovsky, managed to restore its original appearance of the 17th century and take priceless drawings and measurements. Then he was imprisoned for refusing to participate in the demolition of the Church of the Intercession on the Moat. The Kazan Cathedral was closed and first turned into a canteen and warehouse, and in the summer of 1936 it was demolished, thus celebrating its three hundredth anniversary.

A year later, a temporary pavilion of the Third International appeared in its place, built according to the design of Boris Iofan (the architect of the failed Palace of the Soviets). Later, a summer cafe was opened here, and on the site of the altar, a public restroom, called a dog, was built.

By decision of the Moscow government, the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square was restored according to the design of Baranovsky’s student Oleg Zhurin.

On November 4, 1990, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II laid the foundation stone of the cathedral, and three years later he consecrated the newly built temple.
Up pravoslavie.ru

History of the Moscow Kremlin

During archaeological research, it was discovered that in the place where the Archangel Cathedral is now located, there was a Finno-Ugric settlement back in the Iron Age. The first chronicle mention of Moscow dates back to 1147, according to it, not far from the confluence of the Neglinnaya River with the Moskva River on Borovitsy Hill there was a fortified village. The first fortress on this site was built in 1156; it was typical of those times: wooden walls, an earthen rampart and a moat. However, the citadel was destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars in 1238. In 1339 new oak walls were built. Even then, on the territory of the Kremlin, the oldest Moscow temple was located - the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor (it was destroyed in 1933). It served as the tomb of the Moscow princes (later this role passed to the Archangel Cathedral).

In 1367, during the reign of Dmitry Donskoy, walls of white stone were built. It was from those times that the name “White Stone Moscow” appeared. Wooden walls were replaced with stone ones not along the entire perimeter of the fortress, but only in the most vulnerable places. In the 15th century, during the reign of Ivan III, the Moscow Kremlin was rebuilt again. The work is being carried out under the guidance of Italian architects. This time the material used is baked brick. The towers and walls with loopholes in the form of swallow tails built then have survived to this day. However, the Moscow Kremlin acquired its modern appearance in the 17th century - then the tents on the towers were completed.

In 1812, the Moscow Kremlin was captured by Napoleon's army. However, the French emperor’s stay in the “heart” of Moscow was short-lived - he fled the very next day due to the threat of fire. During the retreat, he ordered the Kremlin to be mined. The explosion caused serious damage.

It is known that from the beginning of the 18th century until the October Revolution, the capital of Russia was located in St. Petersburg. The Kremlin was the Moscow residence of the emperor, but he did not appear here often. In this regard, the territory of the Moscow Kremlin was free to visit. Anyone could go inside the fortress walls, take a walk, and see the architectural sights.

During the revolution in 1917, the buildings of the Moscow Kremlin were heavily damaged by artillery shelling.

After the overthrow of the autocracy, the capital was moved to Moscow. The Soviet government, headed by V.I. Lenin, is based in the Kremlin. Ordinary citizens are prohibited from entering here. In those years, monuments related in one way or another to the autocracy were destroyed. Church buildings were not spared either. For example, in 1929–1930. The Chudov and Ascension monasteries, which have been located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin since ancient times, were demolished. The eastern part of the territory was reduced to ruins. Later, the most ancient temple in Moscow, the Cathedral of the Savior on Bor, was destroyed. Various institutions (hospital, gym, club, etc.) were set up in palaces and surviving cathedrals.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Moscow Kremlin was carefully camouflaged, which helped to protect it. The mausoleum was covered with a fake building, the stars were removed from the towers, images of building facades were painted on the walls, etc.

In 1990, the Moscow Kremlin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The exception was the Grand Kremlin Palace. Apparently they thought that its architecture did not fit into the architectural ensemble.

Temple of the Position of the Robe of the Mother of God in Blachernae

1. As in most cases, the harbinger of the stone one was a wooden temple built in the 15th century. But 22 years after its construction it was destroyed by fire. And in 1485 the construction of a new one was completed.
2. During its history, the church was reconstructed several times, and in the 30s of the 18th century it was seriously damaged by fire. And in 1812, during the capture of Moscow by the French, it was robbed.
3. After the revolution it was closed for worship, and in the 50s of the 20th century it was opened as a museum. In the 90s, services began to be held here, which are still held on patronal feast days.
4. At the moment, it is the smallest temple in size of all those operating on the territory of the Kremlin. And if we take into account the cathedrals on the territory of Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin, then this one is the youngest .

Briefly about the Moscow Kremlin

View of Red Square and the Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is the geographical and historical center of Moscow, located on the left bank of the Moscow River, on Borovitsky Hill, the most ancient part of the city, currently one of the main historical and artistic complexes of the country.

Most of the towers are made in the same architectural style of the second half of the 17th century, except for Nikolskaya, which was rebuilt in the Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century.

Cathedrals and temples of the Moscow Kremlin

In the capital of the Orthodox state, as befits, there are many cathedrals and temples. Is not an exception

• The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and the Russian state is the Assumption Cathedral. It is famous for the fact that it hosted the coronation of emperors and the crowning of the kingdom. The election of the heads of the Russian Church and the burial of metropolitans and patriarchs also took place here. Valuable icons are also kept here, and there is an ancient necropolis and place of worship for Ivan the Terrible.
• The Annunciation Cathedral was the personal temple of the Grand Dukes of Moscow.
• The Archangel Cathedral is the ancestral tomb of princes and kings. There are 47 tombstones and 2 shrines with relics. Princes Ivan Kalita and Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III and Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry and Tsars Mikhail and Alexei Romanov are buried here.
• Ivan the Great belltower
• Temple of the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God in Blachernae
• Patriarchal Palace and Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles, built by Antip Konstantinov and Bazhen Ogurtsov.
• Verkhospassky Cathedral
• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya

Secrets of St. Basil's Cathedral - video

The location of the Moscow Kremlin cathedrals is such that they are all in close proximity to each other. But despite this, one day is not enough for a traveler to fully explore at least most of them. For example, I only had a chance to examine some cathedrals superficially. St. Basil's Cathedral caused the strongest impressions, first of all, with its appearance. Based on the interior decoration and feel, I would highlight the Annunciation Cathedral and the Church of the Deposition of the Robe.

And you, dear travelers, what are your favorites among the Kremlin cathedrals, tell us in the comments.

Walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin

Towers of the Moscow Kremlin

The walls and towers were built in 1485-1516. The total length of the Kremlin wall is 2235 meters, their height is from 5 to 19 meters, thickness is from 3.5 to 6.5 meters.

The walls of the Kremlin form an irregular triangle and are decorated along the entire perimeter with battlements in the shape of a swallowtail; there are 1045 teeth in total. Most of the battlements have slit-like loopholes. There are 20 towers along the walls: three towers in the corners of the triangle of walls are round, the rest are square.

List of towers of the Moscow Kremlin:

1. Vodovzvodnaya Tower
2. Borovitskaya Tower
3. Weapon Tower
4. Commandant's Tower
5. Troitskaya is the tallest tower, with a height of 79.3 m.
6. Kutafya Tower
7. Middle Arsenal Tower
8. Corner Arsenal Tower
9. Nikolskaya Tower
10. Senate Tower
11. Spasskaya Tower
12. Tsar's Tower
13. Alarm tower
14. Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower
15. Beklemishevskaya Tower
16. Petrovskaya Tower
17. Second Nameless Tower
18. First Nameless Tower
19. Taynitskaya Tower
20. Annunciation Tower

Other buildings

Grand Kremlin Palace

The Kremlin has several palaces and other buildings from different times.

• Grand Kremlin Palace
• Faceted Chamber
• Golden Tsarina's Chamber
• Amusing Palace
• Terem Palace
• Arsenal (Tseichgauz)
• State Kremlin Palace (Palace of Congresses)
• Senate Palace
• Armouries

Excursions to the Moscow Kremlin

Some of the objects and buildings in the Kremlin are available for visiting and excursions are held there. The opening hours of the Moscow Kremlin are from 10:00 to 17:00. The cost of visiting is from 200 rubles. There are discounts for pensioners and schoolchildren.

The following attractions are open to the public: the Armory Chamber, the Patriarchal Palace, the Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Annunciation Cathedral and some other places.

• Russia
• Moscow

Patriarchal Palace and Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles

1. The Cathedral of the 12 Apostles of the Moscow Kremlin is the only temple in the city bearing this name.
2. Erected in the 17th century by decree of the patriarch. The Patriarchal Palace was built along with it . Subsequently it was rebuilt several times.
3. After the patriarchate was abolished, the cathedral lost its former significance, and the administration of the Great Synod was located in the palace.
4. During the 18th century, the cathedral began to collapse, falling into disrepair, and only towards the end of the century were restoration work carried out.
5. The cathedral was damaged during the revolutionary events, and after them it was transferred to the management of the museum. There is currently an exhibition in the building.

Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin

Perhaps the main architectural attractions of the Moscow Kremlin are concentrated on Cathedral Square. Here are the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel Cathedrals, as well as the Ivan the Great Bell Tower.

Assumption Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral is the oldest surviving building in Moscow. It was built in 1474–1479. For many centuries it was the main temple of the state. Coronation ceremonies took place here. Previously there was a wooden temple on this site. At the beginning of the 14th century it was replaced by a stone one. When the latter fell into disrepair over time, plans began to build a new cathedral. Work began in 1471, but in 1474 an earthquake occurred and the newly built temple was destroyed. Then the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti was invited. Under his leadership, a new five-domed cathedral was erected on the site of the dismantled remains of the collapsed temple. The paintings on the interior walls were made at the end of the 15th – beginning of the 16th centuries. The well-known icon painter Dionysius took part in this work. In the 17th century, the cathedral was painted anew, but in some places fragments of the original paintings have been preserved. Since then, the ancient building has been repeatedly restored and strengthened. In 1547, the crowning ceremony of Ivan IV took place in the Assumption Cathedral. And, starting with Peter II, the coronations of Russian emperors took place here (despite the fact that the capital was in St. Petersburg). Also, the Assumption Cathedral was the burial place of the patriarchs. In 1918, after the Soviet government moved to the Kremlin, the temple was closed for worship. In 1955, the Assumption Cathedral was opened as a museum. Since 1991, it has belonged to the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin".

Cathedral of the Archangel

The Archangel Cathedral is nearby. It was built in 1505–1508. also under the direction of the Italian architect. Previously, another stone temple was located on this site (built in 1333 under Ivan Kalita), and even earlier - a wooden temple. The Archangel Cathedral is the ancestral tomb of Moscow princes and tsars. Ivan Kalita, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan the Terrible, Mikhail and Alexei Romanov, as well as other Moscow princes and tsars are buried here. In total, there are 54 burials in the cathedral. Back in 1508, Prince Vasily III ordered the burial of his ancestors in the Archangel Cathedral. At the same time, the basic rules for burial were formulated.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

Also on Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin is the Annunciation Cathedral. It was built in 1484–1489. Pskov masters. It was the home temple of Moscow princes and kings. The ancient iconostasis is of interest in the interior of the cathedral.

Ivan the Great belltower

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower rises above the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. In fact, this is an entire architectural ensemble, which also includes the Assumption Belfry and the Filaret Annex. Construction of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower began in 1505 in memory of the deceased Ivan III (finished in 1508). Initially it was two-tiered. In the middle of the 16th century. a belfry with a temple was added. In 1600, under Boris Godunov, the third tier was added - the height of the bell tower became 81 m. Until the beginning of the 18th century. it was the tallest building in Moscow. When the Kremlin was captured by Napoleon's army, part of the extension was blown up (later restored). Now on the first tier of the belfry there is an exhibition hall, and in the bell tower there is a museum dedicated to the architecture of the Moscow Kremlin.

Cathedral of the Archangel

1. Dedicated to Archangel Michael.
2. Built at the beginning of the 16th century.
3. The cathedral was preceded by a wooden church of the 13th century, and after a stone church of the 14th century. The Archangel Cathedral was erected by the Italian architect Aleviz Novy , which left a small imprint on the appearance of the building, giving it Venetian elements.
4. Until the reign of Peter I, the cathedral was a tomb for members of the royal family . Until the end of the 18th century, the duties of special ministers included serving memorial services on the days of their remembrance.
5. Nowadays there is a museum functioning in the Archangel Cathedral, but on certain occasions, including on All Souls’ Day, services are held there.

History of the ancient square

Cathedral Square has the status of one of the most ancient squares in the city. The composition and contours of its future development were laid out in the 13th-14th centuries, when only wooden buildings existed in the Kremlin.

The square appeared on the most elevated part of the hill and became the place where the main temples of the nascent state were built.

The stone buildings on the square were erected gradually, and architects from Moscow, Vladimir and Pskov took part in their construction. Italians also worked here, so the appearance of most buildings was strongly influenced by the architecture of the European Renaissance. By the beginning of the 16th century, three large cathedrals, the building of the Chamber of Facets and a high bell tower towered on the square, from which one could see almost the whole of Moscow.

View of the square from the Patriarchal Palace and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles. From left to right: Archangel Cathedral, Annunciation Cathedral, Assumption Cathedral

For several centuries, Cathedral Square was the venue for major celebrations and ceremonies. Here, great princes and Russian tsars were crowned kings, and the heirs to the throne were baptized.

Foreign ambassadors were received in the chambers and zemstvo councils were held. Princes, kings and members of their families were buried in the ancient Archangel Cathedral, and metropolitans and patriarchs found their final refuge in the neighboring Assumption Cathedral.

In 1812, when the French took Moscow, the Kremlin square was damaged by fires. The bell tower, the Filaretov extension and the belfry were especially severely damaged. When the war with the French was over, the old buildings were restored.

The square in front of the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the Assumption Cathedral and the Patriarchal Palace and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles.

The ancient square was reconstructed several times. In the 18th-19th centuries, its fragments were covered with stone slabs. The entire square was paved for the 300th anniversary of the celebration of the Romanov royal dynasty in 1913. In the 1930s, Cathedral Square was paved. However, the asphalt surface quickly deteriorated and next to the ancient cathedrals it looked extremely poor. Therefore, in 1955 it was removed, and the old square was again paved with stone.

Cathedral Square is not the only one on the territory of the Kremlin. Besides it, there are other historical squares behind the battlements. In front of the Spasskaya Tower lies the famous Red Square. It hosts military parades, state celebrations and large festivals. Behind the building of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is the spacious Ivanovo Square, which in former times was called Tsarskaya. In addition, there are two more squares inside the Kremlin walls - Senate and Palace squares, but they are closed to tourists.

View of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower from the Annunciation Cathedral

Ivan the Great belltower

1. The history of the building dates back to the 14th century, when the Church of St. John the Climacus was built on this site.
2. At the beginning of the 16th century, it was dismantled and a new one was erected, which served as the basis for the current bell tower.
3. a belfry was added to the church , and at the beginning of the 17th century a new tier was added. Then another belfry with a tent was added.
4. The bell tower was damaged during the capture of Moscow in 1812. The retreating French blew up the temple, many of the outbuildings were destroyed, although the foundation survived. Three years later, with some modifications, the destroyed buildings were restored. At the end of the 19th century, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great underwent serious restoration.
5. Currently, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great functions as a museum. There are a total of 34 bells .

Architectural ensemble of the Kremlin

The red brick Kremlin of Moscow is one of the largest architectural ensembles of our time. All its elements are of historical value and have a special architectural appearance.

In plan, the Kremlin walls form an irregular triangle. Their length is 2,235 m, their height ranges from 5-19 m, and their thickness reaches 6.5 m. There are 20 towers preserved along the fortress walls, the highest of which, Trinity, reaches 79 m.

The architectural ensemble also consists of:

• Squares - Ivanovskaya, Sobornaya, Senateskaya, Troitskaya, Dvortsovaya.
• Cathedrals - Arkhangelsk, Verkhospassky, Annunciation, Assumption.
• Churches - Deposition of the Robe, Nativity of the Virgin Mary on Senya, Twelve Apostles, Teremnye.
• Palaces - Bolshoi Kremlin, Teremnoy, State Kremlin, Senate, Poteshny.
• Other Kremlin buildings are the Arsenal, the Faceted and Tsarina Chambers, the Patriarchal Chambers (all three are part of the palace complex), the Senate, the Military School named after. All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Armory Chamber.

Also on the territory of the Kremlin you can see a collection of artillery pieces (cannons, howitzers, mortars, etc.) and the famous Tsar Bell.

The decoration of the fortress is the Tainitsky Garden with the Great Kremlin Square. The site is protected by UNESCO.

About 2,000 perennial plants grow in the garden. Some of them are rare. To protect against urban crows and pigeons, birds of prey - falcons, eagle owls, hawks - are kept in the garden.

LiveInternetLiveInternet

Quote from Panter_Woman

Read in full In your quotation book or community!
Temples of the Moscow Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral
For those interested, see the Temples of St. Petersburg HERE

________________________

The idea of ​​​​building memorial temples goes back to the ancient Russian tradition of votive temples, erected as a sign of thanksgiving for the victory and in eternal remembrance of the dead.

Fyodor Alekseyev. Red Square in Moscow. 1801

St. Basil's Cathedral is the main temple of Moscow

The Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral, is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Moscow. Having conquered Kazan, Ivan the Terrible ordered the architects Posnik and Barma to build a church, which was supposed to symbolize the victory that marked the beginning of the transformation of the Moscow principality into the Russian Empire. Nowadays St. Basil's Cathedral is a symbol and one of the main attractions of Moscow.

Alexey Petrovich Bogolyubov, Saint Basil's Cathedral

“He is the altar of Russia,” said Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov about the Moscow Kremlin.

1. Assumption Cathedral; 2. Annunciation Cathedral; 3. Archangel Cathedral; 4. Bell tower of Ivan the Great; 5. Church of the Twelve Apostles; 6. Church of the Deposition of the Robe

The Kremlin is not only an architectural masterpiece, in which history itself has united works of different eras and styles into a single ensemble. This is the stronghold of Orthodoxy, the focus of all times in the history of our country... You can’t help but feel it on Cathedral Square, when you look closely at the walls, crosses, domes... Acquaintance with the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin, even in absentia, allows you to understand that its heroic glory is not primarily connected with the strength of walls, but with the spiritual power of the highest truth and beauty of holiness.

Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

Zichy Mihaly Coronation of Alexander II in the Assumption Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is an Orthodox church located on Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin. Built in 1475-1479 under the leadership of the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti. The main temple of the Moscow state. The oldest fully preserved building in Moscow.

Timm Vasily Fedorovich, Confirmation of the sovereign Emperor Alexander II during his coronation in the Assumption Cathedral (August 26, 1856)

Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

The Archangel Cathedral is the second most important temple in the Kremlin, after the Assumption. Until the 18th century it served as the family tomb of the great Moscow princes and tsars.

The Bell Tower of Ivan the Great and the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin E. Gilbertzon

The domes of the Archangel Cathedral are the only ones not gilded among all the Kremlin churches. This is due to its ritual purpose, because the Archangel Cathedral is the oldest tomb of Moscow princes.

Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

Procession at the Annunciation Cathedral

Shukhvostov Stepan Mikhailovich, Mass in the Moscow Annunciation Cathedral 1867

Ivan the Great belltower

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower (also known as the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great) is a church-bell tower located on Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin. At the base of the bell tower is the Church of St. John Climacus.

Temple of the 12 Apostles - Patriarchal Palace

The Patriarchal Palace and the Church of the Twelve Apostles are buildings on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin, located north of the Assumption Cathedral and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. The Temple of the 12 Apostles in the Moscow Kremlin is a Russian national architectural monument. It was built by Russian masters, the authors of the royal Terem Palace, Bazhen Ogurtsov and Antipa Konstantinov in 1635 - 1656. on the site of the old temple and part of Boris Godunov's courtyard.

Church of the Deposition of the Robe

The Church of the Deposition of the Robe (Church of the Placing of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Deposition of the Robe) is an Orthodox church on Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin. The name of the church comes from a Byzantine holiday celebrating the arrival of the Robe of the Mother of God in Constantinople, which, according to legend, saved the city several times from enemy invasions.

Tsar Cannon

The Tsar Cannon, currently installed on the western side of Ivanovo Square, between the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great and the Church of the Twelve Apostles, is the most outstanding work of Russian weaponry. It was made by order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich in 1586. court foundry worker Andrei Chokhov at the Moscow Cannon Yard. In terms of caliber, which is 890mm, this is the largest cannon in the world, for which it is called the Tsar Cannon. Its weight is close to 40 tons.

The Kremlin is not only an architectural masterpiece, in which history itself has united works of different eras and styles into a single ensemble. This is the stronghold of Orthodoxy, the focus of all times in the history of our country... You can’t help but feel it on Cathedral Square when you look closely at the walls, crosses, and domes

The Tsar Bell

The Tsar Bell was cast in the Kremlin in 1733-1735. Russian foundry master Ivan Motorin and his son Mikhail. In total, eighty-three artisans and workers were employed in casting the bell. Various works related to casting were performed by sculptors, pedestal and molders, and carvers. In total, this miracle of foundry art was created by about two hundred people.

Gilbertzon, E. - Tsar Bell in the Moscow Kremlin

Series of messages “Masterpieces of Architecture”:
Part 1 - I will remember the halls of the Louvre... Part 2 - Silent witnesses of the great history of France - the castles of the Loire Valley... Part 5 - Masterpieces of Architecture | Italy part 1. Part 6 - Hagia Sophia - a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium Part 7 - Temples of the Moscow Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral

Towers of the Moscow Kremlin

The walls of the Moscow Kremlin have 20 towers, none of which are identical. The history of Moscow began at the Borovitsky Gate. Here is one of the southwestern towers of the Kremlin wall - Borovitskaya. It faces the Alexander Garden and Borovitskaya Square. According to legend, her name comes from the forest that covered one of the seven hills on which Moscow stands.

Through the Vodovzvodnaya (Sviblova) tower there was a secret exit to the Neglinnaya River and there was a well in it.

The Annunciation Tower got its name from the Annunciation Icon, which was once located here.

Tainitskaya is the central tower of the southern wall of the Kremlin, next to it, also on the southern side, are the First and Second Nameless. Gunpowder was stored in the First Nameless.

Petrovskaya was important for defense, since it was located next to the Moscow River and the moat. In the south-eastern part of the Kremlin wall there is the Beklemishevskaya Tower

It got its name from the Courtyard of Boyar Beklemishev, adjacent to it

In the south-eastern part of the Kremlin wall there is the Beklemishevskaya Tower. It got its name from the Courtyard of Boyar Beklemishev, adjacent to it.

In 1490, on the site of the Timofeevsky Gate in honor of the Kremlin Church of Constantine and Helen, the Constantine-Elenin Tower was built.

On Nabatnaya the bells of the Spassky alarm bell were located - the fire service. For the alarm bell, the Tsar's Tower was built, small, of four columns.

Spasskaya served as the main entrance to the Kremlin. Its gates were considered holy. From Red Square, the Kremlin was protected by the Senate and Corner Arsenal (Sobakina) towers.

The gates of the Nikolskaya Tower served the nobles for access to their courtyards.

Russian Orthodox Church

Central deanery of the Moscow city diocese

Story

The first stone building of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin was founded on August 4, 1326 by the first Moscow Metropolitan, Saint Peter, and Prince John Kalita. According to excavations, the new cathedral - the first stone church in Moscow - was built on the site of a previously existing wooden church. The impetus for construction was Moscow's acquisition of the status of the capital city.

At the end of the 15th century. Grand Duke Ivan III, who united all Russian principalities under the rule of Moscow, began the creation of his new residence with the reconstruction of the Assumption Cathedral. The temple was dismantled in 1472 to its very foundations, and the relics of St. Petra. Pskov masters Krivtsov and Myshkin erected a new cathedral, but it collapsed. Then Ivan III invited the architect Aristotle Fioravanti from Italy, under whose leadership the building was built (1475-79), which still adorns the Moscow Kremlin. Fioravanti was instructed to take the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral as a model - thereby emphasizing the continuity of Moscow in relation to one of the ancient centers of Holy Rus'.

In August 1479, Metropolitan Geronty consecrated the temple. The relics of St. Peter, which were located in the church of St. during construction. John the Evangelist, were transferred to the cathedral.

The Assumption Cathedral is a six-pillar, five-domed, five-apse temple. Built of white stone in combination with brick: the vaults, drums, the eastern wall above the altar apses, the eastern square pillars hidden by the altar barrier are made of brick; the rest are round - the pillars are also made of brick, but lined with white stone.

The initial paintings of the cathedral were carried out in the period from 1481 to 1515. The icon painter Dionysius took part in the painting. In 1642-43 The cathedral was painted anew by a group of 150 artists led by the Tsar's isographers Ivan and Boris Paisein and Sidor Pospeev, but fragments of the original paintings have also been preserved, which are the oldest extant example of fresco painting on the territory of the Kremlin. The iconostasis was created in 1653 by order of Patriarch Nikon. Collection of icons of the XI-XVII centuries. in the Assumption Cathedral is one of the richest in the world. Most of them were written in Moscow for the cathedrals of the 14th and 15th centuries, others were brought to Moscow from ancient cities during the period of gathering Russian lands.

The oldest monument of applied art in the cathedral is its southern doors (brought to Moscow from the Suzdal Cathedral, dating back to the beginning of the 15th century); 20 images on biblical themes are written on them in gold over black lacquer.

Since 1326, when St. Peter, and until 1700 the cathedral served as the tomb of the Primates of the Russian Church - metropolitans and patriarchs. There are a total of 19 tombs in the cathedral, located along the walls of the cathedral.

In 1547, the crowning of Ivan IV took place here for the first time. The Zemsky Council of 1613 was held in the building of the cathedral, at which Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected tsar. After the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, the cathedral continued to be the place of coronation of all Russian emperors, starting with Peter II.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, the Assumption Cathedral was plundered by Napoleonic troops.

The cathedral received minor damage during shelling of the Kremlin in November 1917 and was completely restored the following year. In 1918, Moscow Metropolitan Tikhon was installed as patriarch here. In the same year, the Assumption Cathedral was closed due to the placement of the RSFSR government in the Kremlin. The last service here was held on Easter 1918.

In 1922, the Assumption Cathedral was turned into a museum. Thanks to constant restoration work, by the mid-50s of the twentieth century. Almost all the icons and paintings were uncovered from late records, and since 1954 the Assumption Cathedral has been opened to visitors. Restoration work continued, which required the temporary closure of the cathedral, and the exhibition was finally completed in 1995.

Divine services in the cathedral were resumed in 1990. Divine services are held on major church holidays, entrance is by invitation only.

The cathedral is available to everyone for inspection every day except Thursday, from 10.00 to 17.00.

Thrones

The main altar was consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the chapels - in honor of the Great Martyr. Demetrius of Thessalonica, Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, Supreme App. Peter and Paul.

Shrines

Double-sided icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” and “St. George”, “Savior’s Ardent Eye”, “Trinity”, two copies of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, temple image “Assumption”, “Present Queen”, “Apostles Peter and Paul”, “Metropolitan” Peter in the Life" and others. Relics of Saints Peter, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes, staff of Saint Peter.

SENATE PALACE

Empress Catherine II, who loved Moscow, sometimes spent several months in the city. At this time, all government agencies had to move from St. Petersburg after her. They needed to be housed somewhere, so a large government building, which the ancient capital had lacked until then, was simply necessary here.

In 1776, the Empress issued a special decree “On the construction of a special building in the Moscow Kremlin for those present there.” To do this, it was necessary to demolish the monastic courtyards and courtyards located in the Kremlin. The building had to fit into a triangular area between the Kremlin wall, the Arsenal and the Chudov Monastery.

The foundation stone was laid in 1776. The building under construction was to become the second largest in the Moscow Kremlin after the Arsenal. The allocated area and the empress's requirement inevitably dictated the classical correctness of the building's geometric shapes, this time in the form of a triangle, complemented by deployed transverse buildings. In 1787, the Senate Palace was completed.

According to the architect M. F. Kazakov, the building was supposed to symbolize high civil ideals, justice and legality. According to the ideas of that time, classical ancient forms were best suited for their implementation. The palace has a strict and restrained decor. Its top was crowned with a geometrically correct dome. The classical contours of the palace, its impressive dimensions, and the high dome that towered above the Kremlin walls changed the appearance of the entire Kremlin, giving it features characteristic of that era.

In 1856, after renovation, the building housed judicial institutions, and the dome was crowned with a pillar with the royal crown and the inscription “Law,” which symbolized imperial justice. After the Soviet government moved to Moscow, the pillar with the crown was dismantled, a flagpole with a waving USSR flag was erected on the dome, and the building housed the office of V. I. Lenin. Subsequently, the Council of Ministers of the USSR worked in the Senate Palace. Currently, the working residence of the President of the Russian Federation is located here.

Temples of Russia

Russian Federation

Russian empire

Geography	Photos	Temples on the map

When compiling the geographical catalog, the administrative-territorial division of the Russian Federation as of January 1, 2002 was taken as a basis. To simplify the search, many cities of regional subordination, closed administrative-territorial entities, etc. are assigned to the administrative regions of which they are the centers or whose territories surround them.

viewing mode:	All objects shown
Hide unsaved objects

objects	additionally
Total:	29399
Altai region	147
Amur region	8
Arhangelsk region	914
Astrakhan region	59
Belgorod region	233
Bryansk region	431
Vladimir region	1115
Volgograd region	154
Vologda Region	870
Voronezh region	235
Transbaikal region	20
Ivanovo region	667
Irkutsk region	95
Kaliningrad region	85
Kaluga region	949
Kamchatka Krai	4
Karachay-Cherkess Republic	9
Kemerovo region	181
Kirov region	406
Kostroma region	935
Krasnodar region	484
Krasnoyarsk region	226
Kurgan region	232
Kursk region	164
Leningrad region	623
Lipetsk region	309
Magadan Region	10
Moscow	1766
Moscow region	3789
Murmansk region	108
Nizhny Novgorod Region	775
Novgorod region	431
Novosibirsk region	238
Omsk region	185
Orenburg region	159
Oryol Region	404
Penza region	226
Perm region	542
Primorsky Krai	44
Pskov region	660
Republic of Adygea	19
Altai Republic	72
Republic of Bashkortostan	136
The Republic of Buryatia	54
The Republic of Dagestan	2
The Republic of Ingushetia	4
Republic of Kalmykia	10
Republic of Karelia	423
Komi Republic	183
Republic of Crimea	201
Mari El Republic	144
The Republic of Mordovia	353
The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)	21
Republic of North Ossetia-Alania	24
Republic of Tatarstan	536
Republic of Tuva	4
The Republic of Khakassia	28
Rostov region	170
Ryazan Oblast	648
Samara Region	672
Saint Petersburg	485
Saratov region	136
Sakhalin region	9
Sverdlovsk region	815
Sevastopol	65
Smolensk region	457
Stavropol region	130
Tambov Region	322
Tver region	1500
Tomsk region	96
Tula region	598
Tyumen region	176
Udmurt republic	166
Ulyanovsk region	150
Khabarovsk region	11
Chelyabinsk region	323
Chechen Republic	1
Chuvash Republic	111
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug	1
Yaroslavl region	1251
objects	additionally
Total:	29399