Blessed Basil of Moscow, Fool for Christ's sake

Basil the Blessed (1469 - 1552), also known as Vasily Nagoy, was a legendary Moscow holy fool, canonized. He went down in history as a miracle worker who exposed lies and hypocrisy and had the gift of foresight.

Foolishness is a Christian feat consisting of a deliberate attempt to appear stupid and insane. The purpose of such behavior (foolishness for Christ's sake) is to expose external worldly values, hide one's own virtues and incur anger and insults, that is, conscious self-sacrifice. As a rule, holy fools renounced the blessings familiar to man, did not have a home and ate alms, many wore chains - iron chains, rings and stripes, sometimes hats and soles, worn on the naked body to humble the flesh.

Blessed Basil of Moscow: short biography

Blessed Vasily of Moscow, Fool for Christ's sake

He was so loved by the people that to this day the temple that houses his relics is called not Intercession, but “St. Basil’s Cathedral” on the Red Square of the capital. But, as a rule, they know little about Vasily himself.

The Life of Saint Basil the Blessed, for Christ's sake the Fool for Fool's sake

Where and when was the saint and his family born?

The year of birth of the saint is considered to be 1468 or 1462, because there is usually little information about people of ordinary rank - these were the parents of the future ascetic. It is only clear that Vasily was born in Moscow. They say that his mother, Anna, gave birth to him... right on the porch of the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin Mary in the village of Elokhovo - then it was the nearest Moscow region. "Saints" 1646 edition, which contains the life of St. Basil, they also report the name of the blessed father - Jacob, and that the child was long-awaited and beloved.

Chosenness

In those years, children grew up early, starting to help the family. So Vasily, aged ten, was sent as an apprentice to a local shoemaker. It was here that the first incident occurred, showing that until then the boy, who had not stood out in any way from his peers, had special spiritual gifts. One day a merchant came to the workshop to order boots, and ones that wouldn’t wear out in a year.

Vasily, to the surprise of everyone, began to cry with the words: “We will sew you such that you will not wear them out.” When the perplexed customer left, the boy told the master that the merchant was destined to die. It is not known whether those around him took these words seriously, but they definitely remembered them when what the child said definitely came true.

When he took upon himself the feat of foolishness, what did it consist of?

A short time after this incident, Vasily left Elokhov for the capital. According to some sources, he was 10 years old, but most lives say that the young man began the path of spiritual achievement at the age of 16.

Foolishness is perhaps the most difficult spiritual work. It is impossible to enter this field without a special call from God, election. After all, a Christian who has chosen this field voluntarily accepts reproach, ridicule, and, moreover, he himself “causes fire upon himself” with deliberately strange actions, for which many consider him weak-minded, even crazy.

One can decide to enter such a difficult field for human pride only by God’s special election, call. This event almost always remains a secret, unknown to anyone except the Lord and the ascetic himself.

About how Vasily became a holy fool, only one thing is known: his departure from his home was preceded by a certain vow of silence and heartfelt prayer. Only after this, at the inspiration of the Spirit, did the young man, as life says, “convert himself into foolishness and expose his body.”

Nakedness, on the one hand, was an ascetic act, because the body was not protected from cold, rain, and heat. But on the other hand, it also seemed to add “shame” to the person who exposed his body, demonstratively violating generally accepted rules of decency.

This is how Muscovites remember Vasily, a “righteous bastard”.

Basil the Blessed and the blessed Tsarevich Dimitri against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin.

What spiritual gifts did he acquire through his feat?

Purity of life and deep humility made the saint a chosen “vessel” of God’s grace. It is known that he:

• saw the sins of people, denounced them - covertly or openly, committing “strange” actions, understandable, however, to the one being denounced;
• saw the future as the present;

• could provide help even at a long distance, seeing in spirit that it was necessary.

What miracles did Saint Basil perform during his lifetime?

Among them:

• denunciation of a certain merchant who was building a temple; the building's vault collapsed several times, so the builder turned to Vasily for spiritual advice; he, without directly answering, ordered to go to Kyiv, to another seer named John; he reminded the merchant that he kicked his mother out of the house; shocked, the son repented, returned her home, after which he managed to complete the temple;
• prediction of the terrible Moscow fire of 1547; the day before, Vasily came to the Vozdvizhensky Monastery and prayed for a long time with tears in front of its cathedral church; the reason for the tears became clear when it was from here that the fire started, destroying most of the city;

• repeated assistance to foreign merchants, even those of other faiths; one day Vasily gave the alms given to him to a richly dressed “German”; as it turned out, he suddenly fell into ruin, so that he did not even eat for several days, and they did not give him alms, seeing good clothes; another time, the blessed one foresaw a storm in the Caspian Sea, and stopped it with prayer - without leaving Moscow; Persian merchants even saw him on a ship - and then met him on the streets of Moscow;
• More than once the saint denounced those who were committing lies; all the townspeople knew: if he knocked over a tray of rolls of bread or spilled the merchant’s kvass, it was no accident; for example, one day one of the merchants, whose baked goods the blessed one had scattered along the street, himself admitted that he mixed lime into the flour;
• Another miracle is also known: several market women, laughing at the nakedness of the saint, suddenly went blind: Vasily was ready to accept ridicule, but the Lord did not tolerate insults to His saint; subsequently, through the saint’s prayers, the women’s vision returned.

Relations with Ivan the Terrible

It is believed that the first meeting of the young king with the blessed one took place, perhaps, after the Moscow fire of 1547. The life of the saint says that St. Macarius, who had great influence on Ivan IV. Perhaps the sovereign’s attention was attracted by the fact that the saint foresaw disaster, and was also well known to the townspeople for his insight and miracles. During the conversation, he denounced the king for his cruelty towards his subjects and called on him to repentance and change his life.

Another instruction to the king is also known, which he received from Vasily one day after the liturgy. The king noticed that for some reason the holy fool, who was always at the service, did not come (in fact, he hid in the corner of the church). At the end of the service, Ivan asked Vasily the reason for his absence.

Icon of St. Saint Basil's Life.

But he received the answer that in the crowded church only the Metropolitan, the Tsarina, and the holy fool were present at the service, while the Tsar was absent. To the bewilderment of the sovereign, the holy fool explained that Ivan was at the construction site of his palace on the Sparrow Hills. Indeed, the king thought about this throughout the service, without praying.

Some lives of the saint tell about the tsar’s denunciation of the holy fool, who introduced the so-called “oprichnina”, the division of the country into “oprichnina”, the royal inheritance and “zemshchina”, accompanied by repressions against the boyars. Thus, during the bloody campaign against Novgorod, Vasily offered the Tsar a cup of blood, raw meat, as a denunciation of his cruelties.

However, this story completely repeats the story of the Novgorod Blaise. Nikola Salos, therefore it is recognized as borrowed from his life, and therefore has no relation to Vasily. This is understandable: Vasily, already elderly by the beginning of the reign of Ivan IV, according to sources, died several years before the oprichnina. The tsar’s respect for the saint was so great that many say: during Vasily’s life, the tsar simply would not have dared to commit oprichnina.

Lifetime miracles and prophecies of the saint

During his life, the saint of God knew how to sense the unkind thoughts and evil plans of people, saw Angels and Heavenly messengers in the crowd, healed and inspired. The holy fool is responsible for a large number of miraculous healings and amazing deeds.

The Moscow miracle worker foresaw an enemy attack on Moscow. During the evening prayer service, he dreamed of flames escaping from the windows of the Temple of God. The holy fool began to pray harder - the flame gradually died out. Some time after the vision, an army of Crimean Tatars attacked the outskirts of Moscow. The barbarians plundered and burned the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery and nearby villages, but did not advance further.

In 1543, the blessed one predicted an imminent fire on the streets of the city. Soon what he saw came true: a strong fire engulfed the Royal and Metropolitan courts, as well as the Holy Cross Monastery.

Basil protected the houses of the righteous from demons, and sent angels to sinners. He “forced” unscrupulous sellers to confess to dishonest deals and deceptions. For example, there is a known case when a holy fool knocked over a tray of freshly baked rolls. The seller had to admit to deception. It turned out that he “diluted” the flour with lime and powdered chalk.

Exposing the dishonest baker

Prediction of a fire in Moscow

Dying prophecy to Tsar Ivan the Terrible

Where was he buried

It is now impossible to say with certainty where the blessed one’s grave is located. Sources do not precisely indicate the place of the saint’s initial burial, so there are different opinions about this. The saint could have been buried:

• in one of the chapels of the Intercession Church under construction (“Intercession on the Ditch”);
• at some other Moscow church; this version is considered the most plausible, because in 1588, when the church-wide glorification of the saint took place, sources report that his relics were transferred to the Intercession Cathedral - therefore, they were previously in a different place; Then, by order of Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, a chapel of St. appeared in the church. Vasily, where his honest remains remain to this day.

Interesting fact

The royal treasury was kept in the cathedral for many years, despite the fact that the temple was outside the secure walls of the Kremlin, protecting it from possible thieves. However, the sovereigns believed more in the patronage of the blessed. Vasily.

Death

Despite a life full of difficult trials, St. Basil lived to a ripe old age. At the age of 88, he became seriously ill and took to his bed. Having learned about this, the autocrat with Tsarina Anastasia and the children visited him. The blessed one told them the last prophecy about the future of the kingdom - he pointed to the baby Feodor and declared that all the property of the forefathers would go to him.

Reliquary and canopy over the grave of St. Basil the Blessed

In August 1557 (according to other sources, 1552) he rested in joy, because it was as if he saw angels coming for his soul. Almost the entire city gathered for the funeral. The blessed one was seen off with unprecedented honors: the Tsar himself mourned the deceased and carried his coffin, and the service of repose was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Macarius. The body was buried in the graveyard near the Trinity Church.

Where are the relics of the blessed one kept now, how and when can one venerate the shrine?

Since 1588, the relics of the saint have been in the Intercession Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in the country, built as a memory of the capture of Kazan by the troops of Ivan IV. There are 11 thrones, one of which is dedicated to the blessed one. Vasily. Since all the churches are very small, services here were usually performed on patronal feasts.

Church of the Blessed Before the revolution, Vasily was the only one where the liturgy was served daily - due to the multitude of people striving for his relics. Moreover, according to some evidence, the chapel was open around the clock, and candles were always burning during shrines.

Since 1918, the cathedral was confiscated by the state, from that time to the present day it has been a museum. There is an entrance fee here. Divine services are held only on certain days, one of them is August 15, the memory of the saint, when the Patriarch serves him a prayer service.

This is interesting: St. Basil's Cathedral

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Monday, April 23, 2012 19:47 + to quote book

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral, is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Kitay-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. 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 inhabitants of planet Earth, it is a symbol of Moscow (the same as the Eiffel Tower for Paris). Since 1931, in front of the cathedral there has been a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (installed on Red Square in 1818). Versions about the creation The Intercession Cathedral was built in 1555-1561 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; this version is now outdated. 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, 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. In 1588, St. Basil's Church was added to the temple, for the construction of which arched openings were laid in the northeastern part of the cathedral. Architecturally, the church was an independent temple with a separate entrance. At the end of the 16th century. figured heads of the cathedral appeared - instead of the original covering, which burned down during the next fire. In the second half of the 17th century, significant changes took place in the external appearance of the cathedral - the open gallery surrounding the upper churches was covered with a vault, and porches decorated with tents were erected above the white stone stairs.

The external and internal galleries, platforms and parapets of the porches were painted with grass patterns. These renovations were completed by 1683, and information about them was included in the inscriptions on the ceramic tiles that decorated the façade of the cathedral.

Fires, which were frequent in wooden Moscow, greatly damaged the Intercession Cathedral, and therefore, from the end of the 16th century. renovation work was carried out on it. Over the more than four-century history of the monument, such works inevitably changed its appearance in accordance with the aesthetic ideals of each century. In the documents of the cathedral for 1737, the name of the architect Ivan Michurin is mentioned for the first time, under whose leadership work was carried out to restore the architecture and interiors of the cathedral after the so-called “Trinity” fire of 1737. The following comprehensive repair work was carried out in the cathedral by order of Catherine II in 1784 - 1786. They were led by the architect Ivan Yakovlev. In 1918, the Intercession Cathedral became one of the first cultural monuments taken under state protection as a monument of national and world significance. From that moment on, its museumification began. The first caretaker was Archpriest John Kuznetsov. In the post-revolutionary years, the cathedral was in dire straits. In many places the roof was leaking, windows were broken, and in winter there was even snow inside the churches. Ioann Kuznetsov single-handedly maintained order in the cathedral.

In 1923, it was decided to create a historical and architectural museum in the cathedral. Its first head was a researcher at the Historical Museum E.I. Silin. On May 21, the museum was opened to visitors. Active collection of funds has begun. In 1928, the Intercession Cathedral Museum became a branch of the State Historical Museum. Despite the constant restoration work that has been going on in the cathedral for almost a century, the museum is always open to visitors. It was closed only once - during the Great Patriotic War. In 1929 it was closed for worship and the bells were removed. Immediately after the war, systematic work began to restore the cathedral, and on September 7, 1947, on the day of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Moscow, the museum reopened. The cathedral became widely known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. Since 1991, the Intercession Cathedral has been jointly used by the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. After a long break, services were resumed in the temple. Structure of the temple There are 10 domes in total. Nine domes over the temple (according to the number of thrones): Intercession of the Virgin Mary (central), Holy Trinity (eastern), Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (western), Gregory of Armenia (north-western), Alexander of Svirsky (south-east), Varlaam of Khutyn (south-west), John the Merciful (formerly John, Paul and Alexander of Constantinople) (north-east), Nicholas the Wonderworker of Velikoretsky (south), Adrian and Natalia ( former Cyprian and Justina) (northern)) plus one dome over the bell tower. In ancient times, St. Basil's Cathedral had 25 domes, representing the Lord and the 24 elders sitting at His throne. The cathedral consists of eight churches, the altars of which were consecrated in honor of the holidays that occurred during the decisive battles for Kazan: Trinity, in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka), Entry into Jerusalem, in honor of the martyr. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of St. Cyprian and Justina - October 2), St. John the Merciful (before XVIII - in honor of St. Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - November 6), Alexander of Svir (April 17 and August 30), Varlaam of Khutyn (November 6 and the 1st Friday of Peter's Lent), Gregory of Armenia (September 30 ). All these eight churches (four axial, four smaller ones between them) are crowned with onion domes and grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped church rising above them in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God, completed with a tent with a small dome. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages. In 1588, a chapel was added to the cathedral from the northeast, consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed (1469-1552), whose relics were located on the site where the cathedral was built. The name of this chapel gave the cathedral a second, everyday name. Adjacent to the chapel of St. Basil's is the chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in which Blessed John of Moscow was buried in 1589 (at first the chapel was consecrated in honor of the Deposition of the Robe, but in 1680 it was reconsecrated as the Nativity of the Theotokos). In 1672, the discovery of the relics of St. John the Blessed took place there, and in 1916 it was reconsecrated in the name of Blessed John, the Moscow wonderworker. In the 1670s, a tent-roofed bell tower was built. 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 the main, Intercession, church there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin Church of the Chernigov Wonderworkers, dismantled in 1770, and in the chapel of the Entrance to Jerusalem there is an iconostasis from the Alexander Cathedral, dismantled at the same time. The last (before the revolution) rector of the cathedral, Archpriest John Vostorgov, was shot on August 23 (September 5), 1919. Subsequently, the temple was transferred to the disposal of the renovation community. First floor 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 openings - vents. 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. Two 17th-century icons are also on display. - “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos” and “Our Lady of the Sign”.

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

The canopy over the grave of the saint The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial 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 is installed, 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 cast iron slabs of Kasli casting. St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decorative decoration was restored. August 15, 1997, on the day of memory of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and holiday services were resumed in the church. Second floor Galleries and porches Along the perimeter of the cathedral, around all the churches there is an external bypass gallery. Initially it was open. In the middle of the 19th century. the glass 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 portals-entrances leading to the central church organically complement the decor of the internal gallery. The southern portal has been preserved in its original form, without later 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. 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 ribs 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 mysterious [style!] 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 northern 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 The southeastern church was consecrated in the name of St. Alexander 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 close to each other between the wooden beams (tyablas). 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 The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of St. Varlaam Khutynsky. 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 “The 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 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 the architectural decoration of 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 of the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which add 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 (tyabla 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 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 Velikoretsky The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsky image 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 - early 19th centuries. 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. The Church of the Holy Trinity East was 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 was established (“tyabla” are wooden beams with grooves between which the icons were fastened close to each other). 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. “The 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 is 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 middle of the 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. 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. Intercession Cathedral. 1839 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. Bogolyubov A.P. 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. The height of the temple is 65 meters. Interesting facts In St. Petersburg there is a memorial church in memory of Alexander II - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, better known as the Savior on Spilled Blood (completed in 1907). The Intercession Cathedral served as one of the prototypes for the creation of the Savior on Spilled Blood, so both buildings have similar features.

Series of messages “Monasteries, cathedrals, temples...”:
Part 1 - Holy Dormition Odessa Cathedral Part 2 - ABOUT MONASTERY RULES ... Part 4 - Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery.| Russia, Nizhny Novgorod region, Diveevo Part 5 - Church of the Holy Sepulcher Part 6 - Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary on the Moat. Miracles of Saint Basil. Part 7 - Church of the Holy Sepulcher Part 8 - Greece. Meteors.

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Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary on the Moat Miracles of St. Basil's Cathedral St. Basil's Cathedral St. Basil's Moscow

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What teachings and sayings of the saint have survived to this day?

In the life of the saint of God there are some statements recorded by his admirers, brief but succinct, dedicated to spiritual life:

• about church prayer: “True prayer is not judged only by standing with your body in church and moving your mind everywhere. - but true prayer is physically present in church, and raised to God with the mind”;

• about the feat of foolishness, the saint said this to one deacon, who wanted to imitate his work: “Friend, my work is hard, and many are inconvenient to bear it, for you cannot correct great labors.”

Predictions about Russia

From the life of the saint of God and other sources it is known that:

• in 1521 he prophesied about the invasion of Moscow by the Kazan Tatars, which came true;
• at his death, he especially addressed the son of Ivan IV, Theodore, who was present, with the words: “All your ancestors will be yours, and you will be their heir”; subsequently, it was under Theodore that Vasily was glorified by the church (1588);

• The Life also contains information that the blessed one predicted the disasters of Russia that would break out after his death: “he prophesied about the coming of fierce times, as soon as the Orthodox faith in Russia would be destroyed by evil heretics, and the last generation would arise, characteristic of the kingdom of Antichrist, and there would be people who are voluptuous, lovers of money, lovers of glory, will defile the whole earth with fornication and drunkenness, and will perish all such things, which will come true before the coming of Christ, just as his prophecy was not false.” Apparently, based on this phrase from his life, many specific prophecies are attributed to the saint about the rulers of the country and the events of its further history. However, all of them are not confirmed by sources and, most likely, represent fantasies “on the theme” of the life of the saint.

In what cases do they offer prayer to the holy elder?

For many centuries, Saint Basil has been revered as a healer, patron of Moscow, protector of all people living on Russian soil. Prayers to him may contain requests regarding:

• healing from various diseases;
• cleansing the soul from evil and negativity;
• protection from visible and invisible enemies;
• reconciliation between warring parties;
• prevention of frostbite, fires, epidemics;
• getting rid of bad luck, extreme need;
• Christian humility, protection from sinful thoughts;
• gaining true faith in the Lord.

It is believed that the Moscow Saint primarily helps people suffering from diseases of the eyes, legs, and skin to recover. At all times, there have been a large number of believers who were completely cured after fervent prayers to the holy fool.

The holy elder is considered a helper to those unjustly deceived, homeless people who have lost hope for a better life. They pray to him if they want to get rid of alcohol or drug addiction, before long journeys, important meetings and negotiations.

The icon of St. Basil, located in the house, helps to ward off envy, slander, and evil intentions from the family. Regular prayer in front of the image of the Saint helps to more easily endure everyday adversities, difficulties at work, and the loss of a loved one.

Painting

Several Russian artists dedicated their works to the image of Blessed Basil. Among these works:

“The Fool for Christ’s Sake (St. Basil the Blessed)”, author: Lebedev Klavdiy Vasilievich.

"St. Basil (Prayer)." 1994. Kirillov S.A.

"Moscow miracle worker Blessed Basil." Grafov V. 2006

Memory

Miracles sent down from above, associated with the name of the holy fool, continued to happen even after his death.
In 1588 he was canonized. By order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, a chapel was then built at the burial site, where a silver shrine with the relics of the holy fool was installed. On the day of canonization, more than a hundred sufferers received relief from their ailments, including a certain Anna, who received her sight after twelve years of blindness. Great predictions of the prophecy of Saint Basil
The memory of the miracle worker, who brought people the joy of healing and help, is alive to this day. It is celebrated on the day of the saint's death, August 2.

Prayer, troparion, kontakion and magnification

Troparion, tone 8:

Your life, Vasily, is not false, and your purity is undefiled, / for Christ’s sake you exhausted your body with fasting and vigil, / and frost and the warmth of the sun, / and sloth, and rain clouds, / and your face was illuminated like the sun, / and now they come to you the Russian people and all people, / glorifying your holy dormition. / Thus pray to Christ God, / that he may deliver us from barbarian captivity and internecine warfare, / / ​​and the peace of the world will come st, and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4:

We are led by the Spirit of God, most blessed Basil, / you shook off worldly rebellion, / and you abhorred the troubles of life, / and you took off your perishable garments, and put on the robe of dispassion, / refuge You were a stranger to the deception of the flattering ruler of the world,/ and you were strange in your language,/ and , having chosen heavenly riches over earthly wealth,/ thou hast clung to the crown of patience./ And now, most blessed Basil, pray to Christ God/ for those who keep thy holy memory, and call m ti // Rejoice, blessed Vasily.

First prayer

O great servant of Christ, true friend and faithful servant of the All-Creator Lord God, blessed Vasily! Hear us, many sinners, now singing to you and calling on your holy name, have mercy on us, who fall today before your most pure image, accept our small and unworthy prayer, mercy Be proud of our misery, and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of our soul and body sinner, and grant us the opportunity to pass through the course of our life unharmed from visible and invisible enemies, and the Christian death will be shameless, peaceful, serene, and the Heavenly King receive the inheritance with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer

O great servant of Christ, blessed Vasily! Falling before the race of your relics, with love, with faith we kiss your honest image, hoping from it by the power of God to receive healing of our souls and bodies, we glorify the majesty of the Almighty God, His In this life you have glorified with your soul and body the firmness of your faith and love To the Lord of hosts, we preach the strength of your spirit and, remembering the great deeds of your virtue, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts: do not remain silent, cry out for us to the Lord God, for your body You are with us on earth, but you rest in spirit in Heaven in the arms of the Creator yours. By your representation at the Throne of unapproachable glory, ask that the Spirit of God may rest upon us, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety and the fear of God, and may you not despise many sins our dearest prayers. Behold, we, standing in the temple dedicated to your holy name, will write a praise to you: Rejoice, blessed Vasily, for you, having hated the temporary world, labored in a godly manner here and to the height of virtue you have risen. Rejoice, for you tried to overcome passion with all its vicious inclinations and you were granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, for in patience and suffering you appeared bravely and you extinguished all the arrows of the evil one. Rejoice, for by always drawing from the fountain of Israel the grace of God, you were filled with desire. Rejoice, for with the yoke of the saving word of Christ our God, you have trampled all the pride of the world. Rejoice, for in the midst of rumors you have preserved silence, quickly directing your thoughts to the High Ones. Rejoice, for with the sword of the Spirit you cut off the will of your will and established the feet of your mind on the rock of the love of Christ. Rejoice, for you have put off your corruptible garments and put on the new man, renewed by the blood of Christ. Rejoice, for instead of perishable things you have gathered spiritual wealth and you have brought the firstfruits of labor to Christ our God. Rejoice, for even after death the Lord has shown us a source of healing. Rejoice, for having not desired fame and wealth, you counted everything as nothing, so that you acquired Christ, whom you acquired through much labor and patience. Rejoice, as now, uniting with God, enjoying His unceasing vision and dwelling in blissful eternity. Rejoice, for you are filled with good things, which no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, and the heart of man has not breathed into what God has prepared for him who loved Him, so make haste with your prayers , chosen one of God, and we too on earth, united in the strongest union of God’s love, Let us generously bear the goodness of the Gospel and the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be worthy to taste and be satisfied with you eternally of Heavenly unshimmering blessings. Amen.

Prayer three

O saint of Christ, blessed Vasily! Hear us, many sinners, now crying out to you: have mercy on us, servant of God (names), and have mercy on our misery! and with your prayers heal every ailment and disease of the soul and body of our sinner, and grant us the flow of life unharmed, from visible and invisible enemies, and pass on sinlessly, and the Christian end I will be shameless, peaceful, serene, and receive the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints , forever and ever. Amen.

Childhood and adolescence

The small homeland of St. Basil is the village of Elokhovo, located on the territory of the modern Moscow region. The future prophet and healer was born into a peasant family. His parents Jacob and Anna asked God for a long time for the appearance of a child, and only towards the end of their lives did this desire of the spouses come true.

Vasily was born in December 1469. While pregnant, his mother constantly prayed to the Mother of God for a successful birth. The woman became a mother right on the steps of the temple. However, her child turned out to be absolutely healthy.

Since childhood, Vasily was unlike his peers. The people around him noticed his insight and ability to foresee the future. As a teenager, he learned shoemaking from a local master. One day, a young man managed to predict the imminent death of a merchant who ordered boots for himself, which surprised all the residents of his native village.

When Vasily turned 16 years old, he went to Moscow, where he voluntarily took the path of foolishness. The young man denied himself everything and went without clothes all year round. He claimed that his flesh was protected by God's grace, which was much stronger than frost or summer heat. Vasily lived in the open air, on the porch of the temple. The holy fool tirelessly observed fasting, prayed, and wore chains and chains.

At first, the young beggar was considered eccentric and was even mocked. After he performed many amazing deeds, people began to call him a man of God. The life of the Saint became the clearest example of renunciation of worldly goods for the sake of spiritual perfection.