Quote message Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat. Miracles of St. Basil the Blessed.
The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral, is an Orthodox church located on the Red Square of Kitay-gorod in Moscow. A well-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 to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the "procession on a donkey" of the Patriarch.
Currently, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Russia. 
Pokrovsky Cathedral is one of the most famous sights of Russia. For many inhabitants of the planet Earth, it is a symbol of Moscow (the same as the Eiffel Tower for Paris). Since 1931, a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky has been placed in front of the cathedral (installed on Red Square in 1818).
Versions about creation
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 founders of the cathedral.
According to one version, the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma, was the architect.
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known version, Barma and Postnik are two different architects, both involved in the construction, this version is now outdated.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 has not yet found any clear documentary evidence.
According to legend, the architect (architects) of the cathedral were blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could no longer build such a temple. However, if the author of the cathedral is Postnik, then he could not be blinded, since for several years after the construction of the cathedral he participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin.
In 1588, the Church of St. Basil the Blessed was added to the temple, for the device 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 XVI century. figured domes of the cathedral appeared - instead of the original cover, 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 over the white stone stairs. 
The outer and inner galleries, platforms and parapets of the porches were painted with grass ornaments. These renovations were completed by 1683, and information about them is included in the inscriptions on the ceramic tiles that decorated the facade of the cathedral. 
Fires, which were frequent in wooden Moscow, greatly harmed the Intercession Cathedral, and therefore, already from the end of the 16th century. it was undergoing renovations. For more than four centuries of the history of the monument, such works have 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 complex repair work was carried out in the cathedral at the behest 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 began its museumification. Archpriest John Kuznetsov became the first caretaker. In the post-revolutionary years, the cathedral was in distress. Roofs leaked in many places, windows were shattered, and in winter even inside the churches there was snow. John 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 the researcher of the Historical Museum E.I. Silin. On May 21, the museum was opened to visitors. Active collection of funds began.
In 1928, the Pokrovsky 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, 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 has become widely known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. 
Since 1991, the Intercession Cathedral has been in the joint use of the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. After a long break, services were resumed in the temple.
Temple structure
There are only 10 domes.
Nine domes over the temple (according to the number of thrones):
Protection of the Mother of God (center),
Holy Trinity (east),
Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (zap.),
Gregory of Armenia (north-west),
Alexander Svirsky (southeast),
Varlaam Khutynsky (southwest),
John the Merciful (former John, Paul and Alexander of Constantinople) (north-east),
Nicholas the Wonderworker Velikoretsky (Southern),
Adrian and Natalia (former Cyprian and Justina) (sev.))
Plus one dome over the bell tower.
In the old days, St. Basil's Cathedral had 25 domes, denoting the Lord and 24 elders sitting at His throne.
The cathedral consists of eight temples, the thrones of which were consecrated in honor of the holidays that fell on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan:
trinity,
in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka),
Entrance to Jerusalem
in honor of mch. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of St. Cyprian and Justina - October 2),
St. John the Merciful (until XVIII - in honor of St. Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - November 6),
Alexander Svirsky (April 17 and August 30),
Varlaam Khutynsky (November 6 and 1st Friday of Petrov Lent),
Gregory of Armenia (September 30).
All these eight churches (four axial, four smaller between them) are crowned with onion domes and are grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped church towering 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 foundation, 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 at the site where the cathedral was built. The name of this aisle gave the cathedral a second, everyday name. St. Basil's chapel adjoins the chapel of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, 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 re-consecrated as the Nativity of the Mother of God). In 1672, the uncovering of the relics of St. John the Blessed took place in it, and in 1916 it was re-consecrated in the name of Blessed John, the Moscow miracle worker.
In the 1670s, a hipped bell tower was built.
The cathedral has been restored several times. In the 17th century, asymmetrical outbuildings, tents over the porches, intricate decorative processing of the domes (originally they were gold), ornamental painting outside and inside (originally the cathedral itself was white) were added.
In the main, Intercession Church, there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin Church of the Chernihiv Wonderworkers, which was dismantled in 1770, and in the aisle of the Entrance to Jerusalem, there is an iconostasis from the Alexander Cathedral, which was 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
There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral. Churches and galleries stand on a single base - a basement, consisting of several rooms. 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 construction of the northern basement is unique for the 16th century. Its long box vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - vents. Together with a "breathing" building material - brick - they provide a special microclimate of the room at any time of the year.
Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. Deep niches-hiding places in it were used as storage facilities. They were closed with doors, from which the hinges are now preserved. 
Until 1595, the royal treasury was hidden in the basement. Wealthy citizens also brought their property here.
They got into the basement from the upper central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God along the intra-walled white stone staircase. Only the initiates knew about it. Later, this narrow passage was laid. 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. Basil the Blessed at the end of the 16th century, written especially for the Pokrovsky Cathedral. .jpg)
Also on display are two icons from the 17th century. - "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos" and "Our Lady of the Sign". 
The icon "Our Lady of the Sign" is a replica of the facade icon located on the eastern wall of the cathedral. Written in the 1780s. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. the icon was above the entrance to the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed.
Church of St. Basil the Blessed
Canopy over the tomb of the saint
The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial place of St. Basil the Blessed. A stylized inscription on the wall tells of 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 groin vault and crowned with a small light drum with a cupola. The covering of the church is made in the same style with the domes of the upper churches of the cathedral.
The oil painting of the church was made for the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral (1905). The Almighty Savior is depicted in the dome, the forefathers are depicted in the drum, the Deesis (the Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist) is depicted in the crosshairs of the arch, the Evangelists are in the sails of the arch.
On the western wall there is a temple image "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos". In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Theodore Stratilates, John the Baptist, St. Anastasia, the martyr Irina.
On the northern and southern walls are scenes from the life of St. Basil the Blessed: "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 project of the architect A.M. Pavlinov. 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” of the 16th century. and the local image "St. Basil the Blessed against the backdrop of the Kremlin and Red Square" XVIII century.
Above the burial of St. Basil the Blessed, a cancer was 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 - “The Mother of God 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 plates of Kasli casting.
St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decoration was restored. August 15, 1997, 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. It was originally open. 
In the middle of the XIX century. the glazed gallery became part of the interior of the cathedral. Arched entrances lead from the outer gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it with the inner passages. 
The central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the upper parts of the churches. In the second half of the XVII century. the gallery was painted with floral ornaments. Later, narrative oil painting appeared in the cathedral, which was repeatedly updated. Currently, tempera painting has been uncovered in the gallery. Oil paintings of the 19th century have been preserved in the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints in combination with floral ornaments.
Carved brick portals-entrances leading to the central church organically complement the decor of the inner gallery. The southern portal has been preserved in its original form, without later plastering, which allows you to see its decoration. The relief details are laid out from specially molded patterned bricks, and the shallow decor is carved on site. 
Previously, daylight entered the gallery from windows located above the passages to the promenade. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns of the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-headed tops of the remote lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of the cathedral.
The floor of the gallery is laid out of herringbone brick. 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 XVI century. engineering method of the flooring device: many small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of figured bricks.
In this section, the floor is lined with a special rosette pattern, and the original painting imitating brickwork has been recreated on the walls. The size of the drawn bricks corresponds to the real one.
Two galleries unite the aisles of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms give the impression of a "city of churches". Passing through the mysterious [style!] labyrinth of the inner gallery, you can get to the platforms of the porches of the cathedral. Their arches are "flower carpets", the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the eyes 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 consecrations of the cathedral.
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 most important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich Yapanchi 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 vault.
The original appearance of the interior of the church was restored during the restoration work of the 1920s and 1979-1980s: a brick floor with a herringbone pattern, profiled cornices, and 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 of the 16th - early 18th centuries are located close to each other between the wooden beams (tablas). The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with hanging shrouds skillfully embroidered by craftswomen. On velvet shrouds - the traditional image of the Calvary cross.
Church of Varlaam Khutynsky
The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of the Monk 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 arrange a passage between the small church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God.
Four turns into a low octagon. The cylindrical light drum is covered with a vault. The church illuminates the oldest chandelier in the cathedral of the 15th century. A century later, Russian craftsmen added a pommel in the shape of a double-headed eagle to the work of the Nuremberg masters.
The table iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons of the 16th-18th centuries. The peculiarity of the architecture of the church - 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 Khutynsky Monastery's sexton of disasters that threaten 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 is consecrated in honor of the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem.
One of the four large churches is an octagonal two-tiered pillar covered with a vault. The temple is distinguished by its large size and the solemn nature of the decoration.
During the restoration, fragments of the architectural decoration of the 16th century were discovered. Their original appearance has been preserved without the restoration of damaged parts. No ancient painting was 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 of a shell that hit the wall in October 1917.
The current iconostasis was transferred in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which give lightness to the four-tiered structure.
In the middle of the XIX century. the iconostasis was supplemented with wooden carved details. The icons of the lower row tell about the Creation of the world.
The church presents one of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral - the icon "St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life of the 17th century. The image, unique in terms of iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The right-believing prince is represented in the middle of the icon, and around him there are 33 hallmarks with plots 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 St. Gregory of Armenia
The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of St. Gregory, Enlightener of Greater Armenia (d. 335). He converted the king and the whole country to Christianity, was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is celebrated on September 30 (October 13, N.S.). In 1552, on this day, an important event of the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arskaya 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 the apse shifted. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to arrange a passage between this church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God. The light drum is covered with a vault.
The architectural decoration of the 16th century has been restored in the church: ancient windows, semi-columns, cornices, a brick floor laid out “in a Christmas tree”. As in the 17th century, the walls are whitewashed, which emphasizes the severity and beauty of the architectural details.
The tyabla (tyabla - wooden beams with grooves between which icons were fastened) iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. It consists of windows of the XVI-XVII centuries. The royal gates are shifted to the left - due to the 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 contributor Ivan Kislinsky to re-consecrate this chapel in honor of his heavenly patron (1788). In the 1920s The church was given back its original 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 painted wooden candlesticks of the old form. In their upper part there is a metal base, in which thin candles were placed.
In the display case there are items of priestly vestments of the 17th century: surplice and phelonion, embroidered with gold threads. The 19th-century kandilo, decorated with multi-colored enamel, gives a special elegance to the church.
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 (N.S. 15). On this day in 1552, the troops of Tsar Ivan IV stormed Kazan.
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, in which Our Lady of the Burning Bush is depicted. In the 1780s oil painting appeared in the church. On the walls are scenes from the lives of the saints: in the lower tier - Adrian and Natalia, in the upper tier - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of gospel parables and stories from the Old Testament.
The appearance in the painting of images of martyrs of the 4th century. Adrian and Natalia is associated with the renaming of the church in 1786. A wealthy contributor 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 in the style of classicism was also made. It is a magnificent example of skillful woodcarving. The bottom row of the iconostasis depicts scenes of the Creation of the World (day one and four).
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities in the cathedral, the church returned to its original name. Recently, it appeared before the visitors updated: in 2007, the wall paintings and the 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 icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and subsequently received the name "Nikola Velikoretsky".
In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was brought in 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-tiered octagonal pillar with a light drum and vault. Its height is 28 m.
The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during a fire in 1737. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. a single complex of decorative and fine arts was formed: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and a monumental narrative painting of the walls and vault. The lower tier of the octagon contains the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about bringing the image to Moscow and illustrations for them.
In the upper tier, the Mother of God is depicted on the throne, surrounded by prophets, above - the apostles, in the vault - the image of the Almighty Savior.
The iconostasis is richly decorated with gilded stucco floral decorations. Icons in narrow profiled frames are painted in oil. In the local row there is an image of "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in his 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 remote double-sided icons depicting St. Nicholas. With them they made religious processions around the cathedral.
At the end of the XVIII century. The floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During the 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 painting of the church were restored with the assistance of the Moscow International Currency Exchange.
Church of the Holy Trinity
The eastern one is consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Pokrovsky Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, by whose name the entire church was often called.
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. In the process of restoration in the 1920s. in this church, the ancient architectural and decorative decoration was most fully restored: semi-columns and pilasters framing the arches-entrances of the lower part of the octagon, a decorative belt of arches. In the vault of the dome, a spiral is laid out with small-sized 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 mounted in the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church illuminates the oldest Russian chandelier in the cathedral from the end of the 16th century.
On the basis of restoration studies, the form of the original, so-called “tabla” iconostasis (“tabla” - wooden beams with grooves between which the icons were fastened close to each other) was established. The peculiarity of the iconostasis is the unusual shape of the low royal doors and three-row icons that form three canonical ranks: 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 in the second half of the 16th century.
Church of the Three Patriarchs
The northeastern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the three Patriarchs of Constantinople: Alexander, John and Paul the New.
In 1552, on the day of memory 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 marching 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 pass 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 re-consecrated 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, bringing it to King Avgar in the Asia Minor city of Edessa, as well as scenes from the life of the Patriarchs of Constantinople.
The five-tiered iconostasis combines baroque elements with classical ones. This is the only altar barrier in the cathedral from the middle of the 19th century. It was made especially for this church.
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities, the church returned to its original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian patrons, the leadership 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 XVII century. The old belfry was dilapidated and fell into disrepair. In the 1680s it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands to this day.
The base of the bell tower is a massive high quadrangle, on which an octagon with an open area 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 colorful 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 masters 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 Blood, so both buildings have similar features.
The fundamental monument of the architectural ensemble of Red Square - St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow has become a familiar and recognizable symbol of Russia throughout the world.
Sign of the Age
It is a well-known fact that St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was built in honor of the annexation of the Kazan Khanate to Russia. This event was of key importance in the transformation of the Moscow principality into a powerful centralized state. The last stronghold of the Tatar-Mongol power was defeated. It happened in October 1552, on the day of the celebration of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The construction of the temple began in 1555 and was completed five years later. For its time, the cathedral was the most grandiose building in Moscow. The height from the foundation to the base of the cross is 65 meters. The consecration of the cathedral took place in July 1561.
Construction secrets
Chronicles did not retain reliable information about the author of the project and the masters who embodied it in stone. There are several versions of this. The accepted one officially says that the St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was erected by a certain Postnik Yakovlev, originally from Pskov. Otherwise, this architect is called Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, nicknamed Postnik. There is also an opinion that the unique appearance of the temple was created by an unknown Italian master. There were precedents for this, masters from Italy took part in the construction of many buildings in the Kremlin.
Legend has it that the architects of the cathedral were blinded at the end of construction. Tsar Ivan, struck by the beauty of the temple, did not wish that something similar could be erected anywhere else. However, the chronicles testify that Postnik, after the Moscow construction, participated in the construction of the Kremlin in Kazan for several years. This is evidenced by the royal decree of 15.12. 1555, commanding Postnik Yakovlev, among other masters, to go to this city.
Temple - a symbol of the daring of Ivan the Terrible
It was the pious medieval tradition that led to the fact that St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was built in memory of the military victory. This, however, does not reflect all its significance for the history of Russia. The young Tsar Ivan IV at the beginning of his reign set ambitious goals for building a new state. It was he who first officially began to be called the king. Even under his grandfather, Grand Duke John III, a new doctrine of spiritual appearance began to emerge in Russia: Moscow - the Third Rome. Ivan the Terrible believed that Russia should unite various peoples and be their guide to Heavenly Jerusalem. It is this, according to the idea of the royal customer, that St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was supposed to express with its many domes.
The interior of the cathedral
The design of the cathedral includes nine small temples. In accordance with church tradition, the layout of temples is strictly regulated. They are built in the form of a cross, a ship or a circle. In plan, the cathedral represents an eight-pointed star - a symbol of the life of the next century. The altars of the aisle churches were consecrated in honor of church holidays and saints, the days of celebration and veneration of which were marked by the most important stages in the conquest of Kazan and the Middle Volga region:
- the central aisle is dedicated to the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos;
- Trinity - in the east;
- in the west - in honor of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem;
- in the northwest - in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Gregory the Great, Enlightener of Armenia;
- in the southeast - in honor of the Monk Alexander Svirsky;
- in the southwest - in honor of the Monk Varlaam Khutynsky;
- in the northeast - in honor of St. John of Alexandria;
- in the south - St. Nicholas;
- in the north - in honor of Sts. Martyrs Adrian and Natalia.
Later, two more aisles were added: in honor of St. Basil the Blessed and a bell tower with an altar dedicated to St. John of Moscow.
Chapel of St. Basil the Blessed
A contemporary of Tsar Ivan the Terrible was an unusual person - a God-fearing young man from the roundabout village of Yelokhovo. In his youth, he left his home and wandered the streets of the capital. Basil from God was awarded the gift of foresight. He constantly denounced the hypocrisy and lies of his fellow citizens, regardless of rank and class. Such people are popularly called holy fools or blessed. The Church venerates them as saints who took upon themselves the feat of imaginary madness. Ivan the Terrible was very respectful of the blessed, received in his chambers, listened to his advice.
When Vasily died, he was buried in the cemetery of the Trinity Church near the defensive moat of the Kremlin, where the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed was later built in Moscow. The year of the foundation of the cathedral and the date of the death of the saint, who took part in the collection of funds for its construction, mystically coincide. In 1588 Basil, a holy fool for Christ's sake, was canonized by the Church. By order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, a temple was built over his grave, which, in fact, was the tenth aisle of the cathedral. He gave the world-famous name to the entire sacred building.
The cathedral, being more of a memorial than a utilitarian place for mass worship, on the days of great holidays was a huge altar. Prayers gathered on Red Square, and the role of the church pulpit was performed by the Execution Ground.
In their original form, the domes had a helmet-like shape, classic for Russian temple architecture. They acquired their modern look much later, under Catherine II.
Napoleon, who captured Moscow, decided to dismantle the cathedral and move it to Paris. But in his position it was impossible. From impotence, the emperor set out to blow up the temple. When the gunpowder under the base was already laid and the wick was set on fire, a sudden rain began to save the shrine.
The second time the threat of death hung in the Soviet era, when Lazar Kaganovich, who was in charge of the reconstruction plan for the capital, proposed to demolish the temple and arrange a roadway in its place, convenient for holding demonstrations. The cathedral was saved from destruction by the famous Soviet restorer and architectural historian P.D. Baranovsky. One of the decisive arguments was that St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow was built in memory of one of the greatest events in the history of the country.
The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral) is one of the most significant monuments of ancient Russian architecture of the 16th century. The cathedral was erected in 1555-1561. at the behest of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in honor of the conquest of the Kazan kingdom.
The central church was consecrated in the name of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Four churches - the Three Patriarchs of Constantinople, Cyprian and Justina, Alexander Svirsky and Gregory of Armenia - were consecrated in the name of the saints, on whose memorial day important events of the campaign took place. Other important events of the Russian spiritual life of the second half of the 16th century were also reflected in the program of dedications of the churches of the cathedral: the appearance in the Vyatka lands of a new image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, the glorification of the Monk Varlaam Khutynsky and Alexander Svirsky. The Eastern Church is dedicated to the main dogma of the Christian faith - the Holy Trinity. The Western Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem connects the cathedral with the image of the Heavenly City.
Intercession Cathedral has unique wall paintings, an impressive collection of ancient Russian icon painting and masterpieces of church applied art. The ensemble of ten churches with complete iconostases is unique, the interiors of which reflect the four-century history of the temple.
The chronicle names the Russian architects Postnik and Barma as the authors of St. Basil's Cathedral, who, quite likely, built the cathedral without drawings at all. There is a legend according to which Ivan the Terrible, having seen the cathedral built according to their project, was so delighted with its beauty that he ordered the architects to be blinded so that they could not build a temple anywhere else equal in beauty to the Intercession Cathedral. Some modern historians offer a version according to which the architect of the temple was one person - Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, who was nicknamed Postnik because he kept a strict post. As for the legend about the blinding of Barma and Postnik, it can be partially refuted by the fact that Postnik's name is later found in the annals in connection with the creation of other significant architectural structures.
St. Basil's Cathedral is a symmetrical ensemble of eight pillar-like churches surrounding the ninth - the highest - church topped with a tent. The aisles are connected to each other by a system of transitions. Pillar-shaped churches are crowned with onion domes, none of which repeats the others in architectural decoration. One of them is densely dotted with golden cones, they are like stars in the sky on a dark night; on the other, scarlet belts run in zigzags across a bright field; the third resembles a peeled orange with yellow and green segments. Each dome is decorated with cornices, kokoshniks, windows, niches.
Until the end of the 17th century, until the bell tower of Ivan the Great was built on the territory of the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral was the tallest building in Moscow. The height of the cathedral is 60 meters. In total, there are nine iconostases in St. Basil's Cathedral, in which there are about 400 icons of the 16th-19th centuries, representing the best examples of the Novgorod and Moscow icon-painting schools.
St Basil's Church -
Monument to Russian victories!
You are still standing on Red Square,
The most beautiful of the churches in Russia!
July 12, 2016 marked the 455th anniversary of one of the most famous architectural monuments in Moscow - the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, which we know as St. Basil's Cathedral and which today is considered one of the symbols of Russia and is a monument of world significance, one of the objects protected by UNESCO.
There is no doubt that St. Basil's Cathedral is a symbol of Moscow. We often see it on TV and in movies, in travel magazines and decorative souvenirs brought from the Russian capital. In addition, St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most beautiful places in Russia! And the long history of the Moscow shrine associated with interesting facts and legends annually attracts 500,000 tourists to the most beautiful temple in Russia.
This cathedral is rightfully considered one of the main symbols not only of Moscow, but of the whole of Russia. And the point is not only that it was built in the very center of the capital and in memory of a very important event. St. Basil's Cathedral is also simply extraordinarily beautiful.
Officially, the cathedral has a completely different name - the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is on the Moat. St. Basil's Cathedral is, rather, the "folk" name attached to it.
In the place where the cathedral now flaunts, in the 16th century there was a stone Trinity Church, “which is on the Moat”. There really was a defensive moat here, stretching along the entire wall of the Kremlin from the side of Red Square. This ditch was filled up only in 1813. Now in its place is a Soviet necropolis and a mausoleum.
From the history of the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral:
St. Basil's Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God on the Moat - as its canonical full name sounds - was built on Red Square in 1555-1561.
The construction of the new cathedral was preceded by a long building history. These were the years of the great Kazan campaign, to which colossal importance was attached: until now, all campaigns of Russian troops against Kazan ended in failure. Ivan the Terrible, who personally led the army in 1552, vowed to build a grandiose temple in Moscow on Red Square in the event of a successful end to the campaign in memory of this. While the war was going on, in honor of each major victory, a small wooden church was erected next to the Trinity Church in honor of the saint on whose day the victory was won. When the Russian army returned to Moscow in triumph, Ivan the Terrible decided to build one large church, stone for centuries, on the site of the eight wooden churches built and call it Pokrovsky, since the final victory in the long war was won on the feast of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God. So in 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, a stone Cathedral was laid near the walls of the Moscow Kremlin - the Temple of the Intercession of the Mother of God.
Where did the name "St. Basil's Cathedral" come from?
Despite the fact that the cathedral was built in honor of the victories of Ivan the Terrible over the Golden Horde, it received the name of St. Basil the Blessed among the people, after the name of the chapel attached to the cathedral from the northeast side in 1588. It was built by order of the son of Ivan the Terrible - Fyodor Ioannovich over the grave of Blessed Basil, who died in 1557, and was buried near the walls of the cathedral under construction. The holy fool in winter and summer went naked, in iron chains, Muscovites loved him very much for his gentle disposition. In 1586, under Fyodor Ivanovich, St. Basil the Blessed was canonized. With the addition of the Church of St. Basil the Blessed, divine services in the cathedral became daily. Previously, the cathedral was not heated, as it was, to a greater extent, a memorial one, and services were held in it only in the warm season. And the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed was warm and more spacious. Since then, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is known more as St. Basil's Cathedral. Even during construction, the temple began to be called the name of the holy fool Basil the Blessed, revered by Muscovites, who was buried near the walls of the old church. His relics, giving healing from many diseases, were transferred to the Pokrovsky Cathedral after its construction was completed. Another name of the Temple is Jerusalem, it was given in honor of one of the aisles of the Intercession Church. Intercession Cathedral was built by the standards of the XIV century quickly - in just five years.
The construction was entrusted to the carpenters Barma and Postnik, although many researchers are inclined to believe that “Postnik” is most likely the nickname of the carpenter Ivan Barma.
The documents of the 16th century clearly state that this master, after working on the cathedral in Moscow, participated in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin.
The cathedral is built of brick. In the 16th century, this material was quite new: earlier, the traditional material for churches was white hewn stone and thin brick - plinth. The central part is crowned with a high magnificent tent with a "fiery" decor almost to the middle of its height. Surrounding the tent on all sides are the domes of the aisles, none of which is similar to the other. Not only does the pattern of the large bulbous domes differ; if you look closely, it is easy to see that the finish of each drum is unique. Initially, apparently, the domes were helmet-shaped, but by the end of the 16th century they were definitely onion-shaped. Their current colors were established only in the middle of the 19th century.
During its existence, the temple has undergone many changes: the chapels were completed, the cupolas were changed, the large gallery was covered with a vault and painted with ornaments, porches were arranged over the stairs, and the facades were updated with tiles.
The domes were also replaced: initially they were helmet-shaped, elongated upwards, but at the end of the 16th century they were replaced with onion cupolas with a unique finish. The color of the cupolas was established only in the 19th century, before that they, like the walls, external and internal, were often repainted, changing the pattern. Several times St. Basil's Cathedral was restored.
During the war of 1812, St. Basil's Cathedral was for the first time at risk of demolition. Leaving Moscow, the French mined it, but they could not blow it up, they just plundered it. Immediately after the end of the war, one of the most beloved temples of Muscovites was restored.
In 1680, the cathedral was significantly restored. Shortly before that, in 1672, a small chapel was added to it over the grave of another revered Moscow blessed - John, who was buried here in 1589. The restoration of 1680 was expressed in the fact that the wooden galleries were replaced with brick galleries, instead of the belfry they arranged a hipped bell tower and made a new covering. At the same time, the thrones of thirteen or fourteen churches that stood on Red Square along the moat, where public executions were carried out, were transferred to the basement of the temple (all these churches had the prefix “on blood” in their names). In 1683, a tiled frieze was laid around the entire perimeter of the temple, on the tiles of which the entire history of the building was outlined.
The cathedral was rebuilt, although not so significantly, in the second half of the 18th century, in 1761-1784: the arches of the basement were laid, the ceramic frieze was removed, and all the walls of the temple outside and inside were painted with a “grassy” ornament.
Restoration and renovation of the building was necessary after the terrible Moscow fire of 1737, the capture of the capital by French troops and the looting of the temple, at the same time the cathedral was mined and almost died, and at the beginning of the 20th century it required good repair and strengthening.
In 1817, O.I. Bove, who was engaged in the restoration of post-fire Moscow, strengthened and decorated the retaining wall of the temple from the side of the Moskva River with a cast-iron fence.
During the 19th century, the cathedral was restored several more times, and at the end of the century even the first attempt at scientific research was made.
Here is a complete list of all eleven thrones that existed in the cathedral until 1917:
Basil's Cathedral plan:
*Central - Pokrovsky
*Vostochny - Trinity
*Southeast - Alexander Svirsky
* South - Nicholas the Wonderworker (Velikoretsk Icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker)
*Southwestern - Varlaam Khutynsky
*Western - Entrance to Jerusalem
*Northwestern - St. Gregory of Armenia
*Northern - St. Adrian and Natalia
*Northeast - John the Merciful
* Above the grave of St. John the Blessed - a chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin (1672),
* Adjacent to the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed.
The main thing in the appearance of the temple is that it is devoid of a clearly expressed facade. From which side you approach the cathedral, it seems that it is precisely this side that is the main one. The height of St. Basil's Cathedral is 65 meters. For a long time, until the end of the 16th century, it was the tallest building in Moscow. Initially, the cathedral was painted "like a brick"; later it was repainted, the researchers found the remains of drawings depicting false windows and kokoshniks, as well as commemorative inscriptions made with paint.
In 1918, the Cathedral officially became a historical monument, although this did not save it from a disastrous, abandoned situation and the seizure of valuables by the new government. + Despite the fact that the temple was a branch of the State Historical Museum, and worship services were now prohibited, there were attempts to demolish the building, but, by a lucky chance, they did not materialize.
In 1919, the rector of the cathedral, Fr. John Vostorgov, was shot “for anti-Semitic propaganda”. In 1922, valuables were seized from the cathedral, and in 1929 the cathedral was closed and transferred to the Historical Museum. On this, it would seem, it was possible to calm down. But the worst time was yet to come.
In 1936, Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky was summoned and offered to take measurements of the Church of the Intercession on the Moat, so that it could be safely demolished. The temple, according to the authorities, interfered with the movement of cars on Red Square ... Baranovsky did what no one expected from him, probably. Directly stating to officials that the demolition of the cathedral is madness and a crime, he promised to immediately commit suicide if this happens. Needless to say, after that Baranovsky was immediately arrested. When six months later he was released, the cathedral continued to stand in its place.
One way or another, St. Basil's Cathedral, having survived all those who tried to destroy it, remained standing on Red Square. In 1923-1949, large-scale research was carried out in it, which made it possible to restore the original appearance of the gallery. In 1954-1955, the cathedral was again, as in the 16th century, painted “like a brick”. The branch of the Historical Museum is located in the cathedral, and the flow of tourists there does not dry out. It has occasionally hosted services since 1990, but the rest of the time it is still a museum. But the main thing is probably not even that. The main thing is that one of the most beautiful Moscow and Russian churches in general is still standing on the square, and no one else has any idea to remove it from here. I would like to hope that this is forever. +Today, the cathedral is in the joint use of the State Historical Museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services are held in St. Basil's Cathedral weekly on Sundays, as well as on patronal feasts - August 15, the day of memory of St. Basil the Blessed, and October 14, the day of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Basil's Cathedral consists of nine churches on one foundation. Entering inside the temple, it is even difficult to understand its layout without making a circle or two around the entire building. The central throne of the temple is dedicated to the feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God, because it was on this day that the wall of the Kazan fortress was destroyed by an explosion and the city was taken.
According to the results of the study, it was proved that hiding places used to be made in this famous cathedral, with its powerful walls and vaults. Deep niches were arranged in the walls of the basement, the entrance to which was closed by metal doors. There were heavy forged chests in which rich citizens kept their valuable property - money, jewelry, utensils and books. The royal treasury was also kept there.
What other legends and secrets does this temple, which we call St. Basil's Cathedral, keep today?
Myths and truth about St. Basil's Cathedral:
1) Ivan the Terrible gouged out the eyes of the builders of the temple The most common myth about the cathedral is a chilling, gullible story that Tsar Ivan IV allegedly ordered his builders Postnik and Barma to be blinded so that they would never be able to build anything else that could surpass and outshine the newly erected architectural masterpiece. Meanwhile, there is no real historical evidence. Yes, the builders of the temple were really called Postnik and Barma. In 1896, Archpriest John Kuznetsov, who served in the temple, discovered a chronicle that said that “The pious Tsar John came from the victory of Kazan to the reigning city of Moscow ... And God granted him two Russian masters named Postnik and Barma and be wiser and more convenient for such a wonderful deed ... ". So for the first time the names of the builders of the cathedral became known. But there is not a word about blinding in the annals. Moreover, Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, after completing the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral, took part in the construction of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, the Kazan Kremlin and other iconic buildings, which are mentioned in the annals.
2) The Cathedral was originally conceived as such a motley No, this is an erroneous opinion. The current appearance of the Intercession Cathedral is very different from the original appearance. It had white walls, strictly brick-like. All polychrome and floral painting of the cathedral appeared only in the 1670s. By this time, the cathedral had already undergone significant restructuring: two large porches were added - on the north and south sides. The outer gallery was also covered with vaults. Today, in the decoration of the Intercession Cathedral, you can see frescoes of the 16th century, tempera painting of the 17th century, monumental oil painting of the 18th-19th centuries, and rare monuments of Russian icon painting.
3) Napoleon wanted to move the temple to Paris During the war of 1812, when Napoleon occupied Moscow, the emperor liked the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin so much that he decided to move it to Paris. The technology of the time did not allow for this. Then the French first arranged stables in the temple, and later they simply laid explosives in the base of the cathedral and lit the wick. The assembled Muscovites prayed for the salvation of the temple, and a miracle happened - heavy rain began, which put out the wick.
4) Stalin saved the Cathedral from destruction The temple miraculously survived during the October Revolution - for a long time there were traces of shells on its walls. In 1931, a bronze monument to Minin and Pozharsky was moved to the cathedral - the authorities freed the square from unnecessary buildings for parades. Lazar Kaganovich, who was so successful in destroying the Kazan Cathedral of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and a number of other churches in Moscow, proposed to completely demolish the Intercession Cathedral in order to further clear the place for demonstrations and military parades. The legend says that Kaganovich ordered to make a detailed model of Red Square with a removable temple and brought it to Stalin. Trying to prove to the leader that the cathedral interferes with cars and demonstrations, he, unexpectedly for Stalin, tore off the model of the temple from the square. Surprised, Stalin allegedly at that moment uttered the historical phrase: “Lazar, put it in its place!”, So the question of demolishing the cathedral was postponed. According to the second legend, the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin owes its salvation to the famous restorer P.D. Baranovsky, who sent telegrams to Stalin urging him not to destroy the temple. The legend says that Baranovsky, who was invited to the Kremlin on this issue, knelt before the assembled members of the Central Committee, begging to keep the cult building, and this had an unexpected effect.
5) Does the cathedral serve now only as a museum? The historical and architectural museum in the cathedral was founded in 1923. However, even then, in Soviet times, services in the cathedral continued anyway. They went until 1929, and resumed again in 1991.
25 interesting facts about St. Basil's Cathedral:
1. It is believed that St. Basil's Cathedral is under the special care of the Most Holy Theotokos. The special Providence of God is evidenced by the fact that the cathedral has survived to our time, despite all the cataclysms - fires, wars, the desire of the rulers to blow up the shrine, etc.
2. Initially, the temple was crowned with 25 gilded domes, which symbolized the Lord and the elders at his throne. Today, 10 domes remain, each of which is unique in its decoration and coloring.
3. A milestone in the history of the cathedral was 1990, it was in this year that the shrine was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
4. The cathedral, which recently turned 455 years old, should
was to disappear more than once. It survived fires, the Napoleonic troops who used it as a barn, and even a demolition plan by Stalin's employees who felt that St. Basil took up a lot of space needed for parades.
6. The ancient chronicles mention the fact that Napoleon, during the capture of Moscow in 1812, expressed a desire to transfer the Russian shrine to Paris. Since the desire of the emperor at that time was not feasible due to the lack of technology, Napoleon decided to blow up the cathedral. Muscovites prayed for the salvation of the shrine, it began to rain and put out the fuse.
7. In the 30s of the XX century, during the restoration work, a secret passage was discovered. In ancient times, the basement (base) of the cathedral was not publicly accessible, external stairs led people immediately to the upper temples, many did not even know about the existence of a secret staircase leading to the bowels of the structure. The caches located in the niches of the lower floor were used by wealthy citizens as storehouses for wealth; until the end of the 16th century, the royal treasury was saved here.
8. This temple may still remind us of the Tetris game, which was created in 1984 by Russian computer engineer Alexei Pajitnov, and always started with the image of symbols of the USSR, including St. Basil's Cathedral.
9.Today, the Cathedral is in the simultaneous use of the Russian Orthodox Church and the State Historical Museum.
10. St. Basil's Cathedral symbolizes the victory of the Russian army over the Kazan Khanate.
11. The cathedral is an inaccurate copy of the Kul-Sharif mosque. According to legend, Grozny during the storming of the city was enraged by the resistance offered by the inhabitants, after the capture of the settlement, he ordered the mosque to be demolished.
14. The cathedral is not only of architectural value, the treasures of the shrine include 400 icons of the 16th-19th centuries, paintings of the 19th century, and unique church utensils. There are 9 iconostases in the temple, the walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes of the 17th century.
15. If you look at the temple from above, you can see that the churches, which are located along the perimeter around the central one, form a clear geometric figure - the Star of Bethlehem, a symbol of the Most Holy Theotokos.
16. Under the protection of the state, the Moscow shrine was taken back in 1918.
17. In 1923 the Cathedral opened its doors as a museum.
18. There is one curious story: it is said that Lazar Kaganovich, who was in charge of the master plan for the reconstruction of Moscow, went to Stalin with a model of Red Square in his hand and offered to demolish the cathedral. Stalin's answer was simple: "Lazar, put it in its place!".
19. Intercession Cathedral - the winner of the competition "7 Wonders of Russia". In 2007, the temple became a nominee for the All-Russian competition. The competition was held in three stages, with the announcement of the results on 12.07.2008. St. Basil's Cathedral was announced among the winners.
20. The ensemble of the Cathedral includes eight churches and the main ninth temple with a tent, towering above them, symbolizes the Intercession.
21. Divine services in St. Basil's Cathedral have been held since 1991. Patriarchal and sovereign services are held in the temple on the days of the Intercession and St. Basil the Blessed.
22. During the construction of the shrine, architects used special techniques to create a unique acoustic sound inside the building. Clay pots were laid in the walls, the necks of which were directed towards the interior of the buildings.
23. Cancer with the relics of St. Basil the Blessed is preserved in the temple. More than one case of miraculous healing of parishioners is known, after bowing to the holy relics of Basil.
24. There is an opinion that Basil the Blessed was the only person whom Ivan the Terrible was afraid of, and, therefore, the tsar buried him in the Church of the Holy Trinity.
25. The cathedral consists of nine separate chapels, each of which is dedicated to one of the saints, on whose holidays Ivan the Terrible won the battle.
Poems about St. Basil's Cathedral:
*From the bridge over the Moscow River
We can see Vasilyevsky Spusk.
There is a temple, rising like a mountain,
It stands without shaking off the snow load ...
Let that load be quite symbolic -
Decorated the domes in winter.
After all, the temple is distinguished by its beauty,
In vain mother winter brought snow ...
Any eyewitness will tell you
That time has no power over him.
Basil the Blessed - seer
Keep it with your light... (Milovidova Svetlana)
* The palace is magnificent and arrogant,
Creation of bat masters,
Throwing your golden veil...
He stood majestically, proudly, magnificently;
Irresistibly into a fairy tale, he beckoned -
And I, as if in a dream, suddenly heard ...
Like a bell in my heart rang.
How many times has he been calling for three hundred years?
The painting seemed like a miracle of a brush,
An autograph that has come down through the ages.
And the beauty of an unearthly reflection
I marveled, the thrill is not melting,
And I don't know who was more blessed
At that moment, the binder - the cathedral or me? ..
And, looking at the wonderful frescoes,
I forgot, believing in miracles,
What ingenious masters in revenge
The king, according to legend, gouged out his eyes ...
There was a cathedral, silent and blessed,
And I wanted, looking at the sky,
Build a temple in your soul imperishable,
Until death pecks out your eyes... (Karpenko Alexander)
* Captivating people with beauty,
Keeping faithfulness to God
The Holy Spirit performs the rite, the Miracle Temple in Moscow stands.
A riot of greenery, flowers,
The sun shines on its crosses.
Life is long and forever
Strongly built hand ...
The speech was held by the Terrible Tsar himself,
All Rus', our sovereign:
“There will be a temple in the capital,
Should be like a miracle bird.
A little scare and he will take off,
Fly in clear skies.
Are there craftsmen here?
Who will build a miracle temple,
Or stayed here in Russia,
Rip and hell, but every shame "?
Two people come out of the crowd
And they go to the call of the king
In the belts bent twice,
And bows to the king beat.
Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,
The rumor about them is high.
And life is not cunning,
And wise in construction.
Two Pskov masters,
Everyone is ready for a feat.
Do not be angry, Lord,
There are masters in Russia.
We will build a temple Lord,
Do us this honor.
The king nodded his head,
The land of the Russian sovereign.
And work went to Moscow,
How many people, how much sweat.
They began to build that temple,
Apparently so be it.
Near the Spassky Gate there,
Our temple is growing before our eyes!
Much time or little
Ran away since then
But then a miracle shone
Gifts were brought to him.
Foreigners are surprised
The people completed the building.
The temple stood like a bird,
And the domes sparkled.
Silence floated in the capital,
Like magic two wings.
Suddenly the people began to murmur:
Bells rang out.
"Hallelujah" all sang
The temple stood, it shone.
Rushed up the crosses,
Was beautiful under the domes.
The walls are like clouds
Will stand in Moscow for centuries.
What happened to the masters!
There is no way to contain the joy
Pride broke my heart
The thrill of feeling captured.
Everything in my throat tightened up
Clouded eyes.
The soul trembled at once,
A tear rolled down.
Oh, not an easy victory
A lot of strength given
I have mastered my skill,
Every tongue praised God.
Full of the sun,
The temple hovered like a wondrous dream.
Joy was overflowing
Live don't die.
Ivan the Terrible approached
I walked around the temple with a retinue.
He hit the walls with a rod,
He tested them for strength.
He approached the masters
And he asked them a question:
Answer me king
I'd better make a temple.
Well, what is your answer, will you build it, or not?
Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,
They prophesied in response the words:
“Don't we have a cross?
Show us the king of the place.
We will build, order
Let's do it better, tell me.
Your will sir
All Rus' is a great tsar.
Oh, Slavs - simplicity,
And beauty lives in you.
The king stood in front of the temple,
A predatory gleam shone in his eyes.
The look is heavy and he was silent,
I solved a difficult thought.
"Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,
Words were spoken to them
I will give you my honor.
I'm happy with what I have
I don't need another
Here is my reward for you.
Beauty under the sky
There was no better and no
You part with your eyes
To not see the white light.
And let the soul be glad
I will leave her life as a reward.
Generous royal hand,
Be damned for ages.
The tsar rewarded the masters
Blinded in gratitude.
To not be around the world
A temple better than this one.
The miracle temple sees God -
It has been standing in Moscow for five centuries. (Bogatyrev Yury Nikolaevich)
* You are still standing on Red Square,
Telling the world about our mighty strength,
In honor of military victories, the erected cathedral,
The most beautiful of the churches in Russia!
The symbol of Moscow and the soul of the innermost,
Eternal heir and glory, and troubles,
St Basil's Church -
Monument to Russian victories!
On behalf of Christ to the bell ringing
Metropolitan Macarius blessed you,
I bow to the architects Barma and Postnik,
And to the tsar for the masterpiece of sovereigns! (Marakhin Vladimir)
