Ivan bell. Interesting facts about the tallest bell tower in Russia

• For many centuries the bell tower of Ivan the Great was the most tall building Moscow.
• Visitors can look at belfry with 22 bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1501, and the weight of the largest bell is 64 tons.
• To look at the historical center of Moscow from a height of 25 meters, you can go up to the observation deck bell towers.
• Bell ringing(and it is worth listening to) sounds on Easter and other Orthodox holidays.
• The bell tower is still and museum, which displays fragments of ancient stone decor and sculptures from the Kremlin palaces.

For centuries, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, located on the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin, was the main high-rise dominant of Moscow. Its slender silhouette immediately catches the eye when looking at the Kremlin panorama. The bell tower received its final appearance in early XVII v. under Tsar Boris Godunov: during the years of his reign, it was built up to a height of 81 meters and became a common bell tower for everything temple complex Cathedral Square. In total, there are 22 bells on the Ivan the Great bell tower and the belfry, the oldest of which, the Bear, was cast in 1501. In summer, you can climb the viewing gallery at a height of 25 meters, as well as see the bells and a museum exhibition dedicated to the history of the Kremlin's architecture. The belfry of the bell tower also serves as an exhibition area, its expositions belong to different countries and eras and are regularly updated.

The history of the temple and the bell tower

The bell tower is designed to be the church of St. John Climacus, built in 1508 and consecrated in honor of the heavenly protector of Tsar Ivan III (hence its name - "Ivan the Great"). St. John of the Ladder (VI century AD) is known as the author of "The Ladder of Paradise" - an essay on the path of spiritual cleansing and the ascent of the soul to God. The author of the bell tower project was the Italian architect Bon Fryazin. He retained the concept of the first wooden church-bell tower, which had stood on this site since the 14th century, and created a new stone bell tower with space for services. Bon Fryazin was well acquainted with the construction of tower-like buildings, since campanilla - free-standing bell towers - were widespread in medieval Italy.

In 1532-1543. the Italian architect Petrok Maly added a belfry to the bell tower. Nowadays, the largest of the operating bells in Moscow - Uspensky, weighing 64 tons, hangs on it. In the XVII century. the Filaretovskaya annex was created (named after the patriarch, father of Mikhail Romanov), which is an excellent example of the architecture of its time.

In 1600, an architect named Fyodor Kon managed to organically complement the composition and build on the bell tower, without violating the plan of Bon Fryazin. The customer - Tsar Boris Godunov - wanted to establish his name by decorating the Kremlin for centuries. And I must say, he approved his name in the literal sense: under the dome of the bell tower, an inscription was made, which has survived to this day: « By the will of the Holy Trinity, by the command of the Great Tsar and Grand Duke Boris Fyodorovich of All Russia, the autocrat and the son of his faithful great sovereign, Prince Fyodor Borisovich of All Russia, this temple was completed and gilded in the second summer of their state. " This is a unique example of how lettering can play important role in the formation of the composition of the building.

The architecture of "Ivan the Great"

The building turned out to be very slender: the elongated eight-part volumes taper upwards and the arcade is visually lightened mi at the level of the ringing pads. The bell tower consists of three tiers, the walls of which are up to 5 m thick. The upper tier passes into a round drum, which is decorated with a belt of beautiful kokoshniks with false windows-niches. The building stands on a foundation of white stone, which rests on a large number of wooden piles. In total, the bell tower goes 6 meters underground.

The meaning of the bell tower

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower remained the tallest building in Moscow for a long time. When the closest associate Alexander Menshikov built the church of the Archangel Gabriel 84.4 meters high (that is, 3 meters higher), this caused discontent among Muscovites. Therefore, when I got to the Menshikov Tower and the zipper, and its top wooden part burned down, everyone considered it God's punishment for an attempt on the authority of the Kremlin shrine. The bell tower still offers a beautiful view of the historic center of Moscow. In past centuries, when the buildings were not so high-rise and dense, from the top point of the bell tower, where 429 steps lead, the view opened up to 30 kilometers, which made it a key sentinel point of the city. It is known that poets and poets climbed the bell tower.

And, of course, in addition to strategic defensive significance, Ivan the Great was and remains the main Moscow belfry. It was from him that the first blow of a large bell sounded, which became the signal for the beginning of ringing throughout Moscow in the days Orthodox holidays... This tradition was renewed in the 90s of the XX century. Now the ringing of the bells of Ivan the Great can be heard, for example, on the day of the Easter holiday. He makes a huge impression on the audience. Also, the bell tower is one of the museums of the Moscow Kremlin: here are collected authentic fragments of ancient stone decor and sculptures that adorned the Kremlin palaces in their time.

Total marks: 15 , average rating: 4,53 (out of 5)

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Inside Sadovoe

Alexander Garden, Borovitskaya, Okhotny Ryad

Moscow Kremlin, Cathedral Square

Working days: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
In the summer period (from May 15 to September 30): from 10.00 to 18.00. Ticket offices from 9.00 to 17.00
In winter (from September 30 to May 15) from 10.00 to 17.00. Ticket offices from 9.30 to 16.30
The exposition of the museum in the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is open by sessions: 10:15, 11:15, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00. The 17:00 session is available from May 15 to September 30.

From 250 rubles. up to RUB 500 depending on the category of the visitor and the visit program. Photo and video filming is included in the ticket price (allowed outside the building). The ticket price includes a visit to the entire architectural ensemble of Cathedral Square.
An additional ticket is paid to the Museum of the History of Architecture of the Moscow Kremlin and the observation gallery of the bell tower: 250 rubles.

Kremlin museums do not put forward special requirements for tourists, but when visiting temples, you should remember about Orthodox tradition and avoid overly open clothing. Children under 14 years old are not allowed on the observation deck, since the height of the ascent to the gallery is 137 steps. Professional photography and filming are not permitted.

Guided tours in Russian, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Possibility to purchase tickets online.

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The Kalyazin Bell Tower has long attracted my attention, but the opportunity to touch its secret did not work. Even during last year's trip to the Tver region, we did not manage to stop by Kalyazin to look at the flooded church.

How wonderful that our dreams come true! And even if a little later than we would like. This time we decided to start our independent trip by car from the city of Kalyazin. And the first attraction that we met on our way was the sunken St. Nicholas Cathedral with its famous bell tower.

"Great and wonderful are your works, Lord!" Bible, New Testament

But no less wonderful are the deeds of the children of the human race. It was this thought that pierced me when I first really saw the cross of the flooded Kalyazin bell tower towering over the surface of the lake.

This story began a long time ago, back in the 12th century. In the place where the Zhabna River flows into the majestic Volga, a defensive structure was erected, and on its basis arose male monastery in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker. In those days, monasteries had not only a religious and spiritual significance, but, in general, carried protective and defensive functions.

Yes, of course, the men who lived there were monks and prayed. But above all, they were the defenders of settlements for many miles around. Under their protection, people built dwellings, cities and villages appeared. So a settlement with the name Nikola-na Zhabne grew up.

As time went. The borders of the state expanded, and the urgent need for defense disappeared. The Nikolsky Monastery lost its defensive purpose and soon ceased to exist altogether. But at this place there has always been a small church consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Pleasant.

As a result of the wars and battles that took place in these places, the church was often destroyed, but over and over again it was stubbornly restored. And in the 18th century, the beautiful St. Nicholas Cathedral was built in Kalyazin on this site.

Now only the bell tower is left of it, and even then - not all of it.

Unusual solution to the problem

But let's get everything in order. In the 1930s, the Government of the USSR made a decision to build a reservoir on these lands. This was supposed to make the Volga deeper and wider, which means navigable. And the most important thing is electrification! The country badly needed additional source electricity. To do this, it was necessary to flood a huge land area already inhabited by people with the help of dams.

From the very beginning of the operation of the Uglich hydroelectric power station, more than half of the city of Kalyazin was flooded. The central square of the city, streets with architectural monuments of the past, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Trinity Makarievsky monastery with all the adjacent buildings disappeared under water.

Only three churches and a few residential buildings remained. And the symbol of the city - the Kalyazin bell tower, its cross, lonely and proudly began to rise above the surrounding water space.

The Nikolskaya Church in Kalyazin remained in the water as a lighthouse for ships sailing along the Uglich reservoir. Initially, according to the plans of the builders of the new country, it was also supposed to be under water along with other historical and cultural monuments.

The impressive history of the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Currently, the submerged bell tower stands on the place where there was once a high bank, a noisy trading square, where residents of Kalyazin walked or hurried about their business.

The bell tower, consisting of 5 tiers, more than 70 meters high, was built in 1800. It was built by the peasants of the village of Nikitsky, which then belonged to Colonel Ushakov.

Under the contract, they promised to build "according to the plan and the settlement." And if something goes wrong in the work, they pledged to rebuild it at their own expense.

There was no need to rebuild, the work was done soundly the first time. And the bell tower has been standing for more than 200 years, of which more than 70 years - in the water, contrary to all laws and regulations.

On the bell tower of that time, 12 bells created an iridescent chime, announcing the beginning of services. The largest bell, weighing approximately 8 tons, was cast in 1895, marking the coronation of the new Russian Emperor Nicholas II.

It was planned to remove the bell from the uppermost tier in the early 30s, but when the water flooded the lower tier of the bell tower, apparently under its own weight, it fell down to the seabed and it was impossible to lift it, or maybe it just didn’t. make.

Myths and legends of the temples of the city of Kalyazin

And now, from generation to generation, the story of eyewitnesses of those events passes when the bell at the bottom of the Uglich Sea began to ring. This happened before global catastrophes. Before the start of the war with the Nazis, before the most terrible and bloody battles: the battle of Moscow, at Stalingrad, before the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Several times divers, on orders from “above”, tried to fix the bell tongue with steel wire, but this did not help. Before the start of the war in Afghanistan with the participation of Soviet soldiers, the bell sounded again.

After such a terrible warning from the flooded church in Kalyazin, a team of workers created an artificial island around the tower overlooking the water, burying the bell under a layer of rubble and stone. This legend is even reflected in the 1984 film Shore.

The mystery of the monastery dungeon

There is also a version, not even a version, but a confirmed fact, about the existence of an underground passage from the bell tower to Makaryevsky monastery Holy Trinity. And also the story that when the Trinity Monastery was just blown up, a messenger appeared a few minutes later with a paper on the Government's decision to preserve the monastery.

According to rumors, in the underground caches of the monastery, the monks hid a large number of church utensils: golden bowls, censer, ornate precious stones books and more. A few minutes of delay, and the history of the life of the whole city could have taken a different path!

A city with a flooded bell tower: a place of sorrow and meditation

The sunken church in Kalyazin was the purpose of our trip. Several motor boats are moored on the Kalyazin coast in summer to take tourists to the bell tower.

When the issue of payment (I will write about this a little below) was resolved in our favor, we loaded onto the boat and set off. Our captain-guide told us details, local legends and folk tales about the events that took place in those old sad years.

The boatman gave us a ride with a breeze, making our first stop near the world famous space telescope. It amazed us with its gigantic size, but read more about it in the next article.

The weather was favorable for us. We moved along the water surface of the reservoir to the Monastyrskiy Islands, where a Memorial Cross was erected on the site of the former Trinity Monastery. We were surrounded by the majestic beauty of pristine nature and man-made creation in the form of a huge water space around.

But against the background of this beauty, we had thoughts about the sad fate of the city, buried at the bottom. It seemed that we hear the ringing of all 12 bells of the Kalyazin bell tower of the Nikolsky Cathedral. They also remembered the completely submerged one, which ended up at the bottom of the Rybinsk reservoir.

After a while, our boat moored to a small artificial island, in the center of which is the famous water bell tower. Here it was possible to photograph the snow-white beauty from all sides very close.

The bell tower doors are now boarded up tightly to avoid accidents. A girl died here a few years ago. In those days, when access was open inside, the guys climbed to the very top to make parachute jumps. And then, during the jump, one girl was lifted up by a gust of wind, her slings were entangled around the cross, and she was dangled by the wind and smashed against the walls. When they managed to take it off, the girl was dead.

After this incident, the entrance was forbidden inside. The bell tower door is opened only a few times a year. These are the days when festive services are held here.

An artificial island protects the bell tower of St. Nicholas Church from waves and destruction during ice drift.

And in warm summer weather, here you can swim on the cleanest mini-beach

and admire the provincial town of Kalyazin.

By the way, many rich mansions have been built on its banks. For example, Zhirinovsky, Baturina and some other wealthy people have their own dacha here. Often comes here to visit world famous: Dolph Lundgren. Our guide told us about this when a private helicopter flew over our heads past the bell tower and parked on the site on the territory of one of the estates.

The artificial island has already formed its own flora and fauna. The nephews were happy to catch a grasshopper in the grass in the middle of the Kalyazinsky reservoir. And they arranged a photo session for him.

Life goes on! After not long standing at the dilapidated walls of the Kalyazin bell tower, we set off on the way back, which we made in complete silence.

How to see the sunken bell tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral

How to get to the island? It is necessary to negotiate with the locals who are waiting for those who wish on the shore directly opposite the chapel.

On their boats, they organized three types of routes to the flooded bell tower for tourists:

• the smallest circle costs 250 rubles, this price simply includes "delivery" to the island and return back;
• average - 500 rubles, for this money you can make a small circle for motor boat around the bell tower with a bend around the distant monastery island, then disembark on the island from the Nikolskaya bell tower and return back;
• the largest, in full: and this is about 20 minutes of riding on the river, around the islands, a check-in to the radio telescope, a panorama of the city of Kalyazin from the water, and a walk around the island - 1,500 rubles per person.

It should be borne in mind that this is the price per person! It does not matter if 1 person rides in a boat or four (as it was in our company). Of course, we wanted to see all the surroundings as much as possible, but multiplying the cost by 4 turned out to be very expensive.

As a result of negotiations, bidding and the absence of others willing to use the services of local "businessmen", we agreed on a price of 3000 rubles for our entire company. And this trip was supposed to include 30 minutes of "pokatushek" with a check-in to the radar and with a story about historical events from our captain.

By the way, in winter the way to the bell tower can be overcome completely free of charge: on foot on the ice. 🙂

The city of Kalyazin is located in the Tver region, almost at the very border with Yaroslavl. You can get to it in different ways.

We were driving from Moscow along the Yaroslavl highway. In the Sergiev Posad area, they turned north towards Uglich and Rybinsk.

Buses depart from Moscow from the Tushinskaya metro station at 8 o'clock, at 11:30, at 14 and 18 o'clock. From the Yaroslavsky railway station, you can take a train to Sergiev Posad, and then to Kalyazin by minibus.

Or you can sail from Moscow by boat. So the road will take longer, but watching the surrounding beauty, you will not get bored. However, according to local residents, in recent times rarely come here large steamers: The height of the water in the Uglich reservoir has now dropped dramatically.

My trip turned out to be so informative, memorable and a little sad.

You can look at the Kalyazin bell tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral on a map of the city of Kalyazin. Coordinates: 57.24373, 37.85686.

Our long-awaited trip to the city with a bell tower in the water took place on July 12, 2016.

And so we take a last look at the sunken bell tower and set off for a walk along. Are you ready to continue your walk with us? Then GO!

Other sights of the Tver region, where I managed to visit, are on this map.

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower of the Moscow Kremlin is the center of the architectural ensemble of Cathedral Square. The belfry forms a single composition together with the Filaretov annex and the church. Until the beginning of the 20th century. the tower was the tallest building in the capital. The construction performed a number of important functions. It was used as a watchtower and a fire tower. The bell tower is currently a tourist attraction.

The foundation of the belfry was laid on the site of a church that existed in the 14-15th centuries. Church of St. John of the Ladder. The ancient church was built specifically for the bells. By outward appearance, it resembled ancient Armenian cathedrals. The interior space was divided into parts in a cruciform manner. Outside, the building had the shape of an octagonal.

The altar part was located in a semicircular apse, oriented to the east. A place was set aside for the bells on the 2nd tier of the church. The square adjacent to the cathedral was christened Ivanovskaya. The decrees of the tsar were proclaimed there and other important state documents were read. The heralds had to shout loudly, "in full Ivanovo." At the beginning of the 16th century, it was decided to dismantle the Church of St. John of the Ladder and build a bell tower in its place, in memory of the deceased Moscow prince Ivan III "the Great".

History of the construction of the Bell Tower

Foreign architects were invited to manage the construction, unprecedented in Russia in terms of the height of the structure. The project was headed by a native of the Apennine Peninsula, the architect Bon Fryazin. The work lasted 3 years (1505-1508). To ensure reliable fastening of the tower, Fryazin ordered oak piles to be driven into its base. Oak wood under the influence of groundwater acquires colossal strength and reliably holds the entire structure. In this case, the depth of the foundation is no more than 4.3-4.5 meters.

In addition, the architect skillfully used other ways to stabilize the structure:

• metal braces inside brick walls;
• adding eggs to the binder solution;
• thick walls of the lower tier (up to 5 m).

Initially, the plan provided for the creation of a 2-storey building. However, in 1532 it was decided to expand the architectural ensemble, at the expense of the Resurrection Church and the bell tower. The construction work was entrusted to the Italian Peter Francesco Anibala, known in Russia under the nickname Petrok Malaya Fryazin. He added a third tier to the tower, on which a giant bell weighing approx. 1.5 t. The giant had its own name "Evangelist". A ladder was made inside the walls to climb.

The total height of the tower was 81 m. It acquired a strategic importance, since from the upper platform the outskirts of the capital could be seen far away (at a distance of 30-40 km). To prevent the view from being closed, at the behest of Boris Godunov, it was forbidden to erect buildings in Moscow exceeding the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The upper decorative superstructure was surrounded by gilded letters. The inscription says that the work on the improvement of the temple was carried out according to the order of Boris Godunov and his son Fyodor.

The first tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, ordered to remake the Church of the Resurrection into the Assumption Belfry. An outbuilding was also added to the temple, which began to be called after the patriarch Filaret.

In the completed version, the architectural ensemble combines 3 parts:

• 8-sided tower-shaped bell tower
• church with a belfry in the Pskov-Novgorod style
• wing with hipped roof

Despite its height, the bell tower visually seems light and slender. A similar effect is achieved by gradually narrowing the tiers. The upper part ends with a rounded drum, over which a gilded bulbous dome rises. Stone kokoshniks with pseudo-window openings act as decorative architectural elements.

During the construction of the building, different building materials were used:

• white hewn stone - foundation and plinth
• red brick - the main part of the structure

The fate of the Cathedral of Ivan the Great during the war with Napoleon

After the capture of the Russian capital by Napoleonic troops, the headquarters of General Loriston was located in the bell tower. During the retreat, the French mined and blew up the Kremlin. The Filaretovskaya extension and the Assumption belfry were completely destroyed. The bell tower remained standing, but there was a huge crack along the upper tier.

The gilded cross on top of the dome of Ivan the Great was considered by Muscovites to be a symbol of royal power. Therefore, Bonaparte ordered to take it off. When the French soldiers found out that the product was based on a copper alloy, and not precious metals, then they threw the remains at the walls of the Assumption Cathedral. In place of the overthrown cross, a new one was erected, made of iron and covered with gilded copper plates. Its upper crossbar was adorned with the inscription "King of Glory".

The post-war restoration work was headed by the Swiss architect Domenico Gilardi. He was guided by a project drawn up by the architect Luigi Rusca. During the renovation, a white facing stone was used; the decor on the top of the belfries was modified. The main innovation was the relocation of the dome of the Assumption Belfry to the western part of the roof.

Bell tower during the Great Patriotic War

Immediately after the outbreak of hostilities in the summer of 1941, a command post was organized in the building for a military department located on the territory of the Kremlin. It operated from June to September 1941. To establish uninterrupted communication inside the Tsar Bell, at the foot of the belfry, a communications center was equipped.

Restoration of destroyed buildings in the post-war period

At the beginning of the 21st century. for the reconstruction of the architectural ensemble, specialists from the Restorator-M company were involved. In the course of the work, they discovered fragments of an old floor (18th century). A new coating was laid on his model.

The method of fragmentary restoration was also used to preserve the original appearance of the in-wall staircase, doorway, decorative elements (rosettes, cornices, imposts) inside the premises. The work carried out made it possible to leave intact and demonstrate to visitors the original samples of ancient Russian architecture.

About bells

In total, there are 34 bells on the belfry. Among them are foundry items made by craftsmen of the 16-19 centuries. The best alarm bells in Russia were cast in Moscow. The most famous bells had their own names. It was customary to decorate them with bas-reliefs and ornaments. A commemorative inscription was left on each bell with the name of the master, date of manufacture, weight.

A special "bell" alloy was used as a starting material. It consisted of:

• tin
• silver
• gold

The proportions of metals were set by the master. The sound of the ringing largely depended on the content of the composition. Over time, the bells lost their resonance, cracks formed in the walls and the product was sent for melting. Initially, wooden beams were used to mount the bells on Ivan the Great. In the 19th century, they began to be gradually replaced by more durable, metal ones.

Assumption bell

Bell Howler

The second largest bell on Ivan the Great is the Howler or Reut. It is 2 times smaller than its counterpart in size - 32,760 kg. At the same time, this is the alarm bell - the patriarch. It was made in 1622 by the renowned Russian foundry worker Andrey Chokhov.

Seven hundred bell

The everyday or Seven-hundredth bell was meant for daily use. It is noticeably inferior to loud comrades and weighs 13,071 kg. The creator of the alarm is I. Motorin.

Other bells

Depending on the range of sounds emitted, bells are divided into 3 types:

• ringing - treble
• red
• evangelical - bass

The combination of different sounds creates an overall harmonious chime. Therefore, a whole orchestra of tobats was placed on the bell tower. They were distributed over 3 tiers of the tower:

1. At the bottom - Swan, Medved, Shirokiy, Novgorodsky, Rostovsky, Slobodskoy.
2. On the average - Korsunsky (3 pcs.), Novy, Nemchin, Bezymyanny, Danilovsky, Maryinsky, Glukhoi.
3. On the top - Unnamed (3 pcs.).

After establishing Soviet power bell ringing was prohibited. In 1992, the chime on Ivan the Great sounded again.

Bell Tower Museums

The room inside the Assumption Belfry was converted into a museum. It contains ancient artifacts, with the help of which the history of the arrangement of the Moscow Kremlin is clearly presented. In the museum collection, visitors can see fragments of existing and already disappeared buildings on the territory of the capital's Detinets.

The exhibition hall serves as a place for the placement of mobile exhibits. Collections on topics were demonstrated here:

• "Royal weddings and coronations in the Moscow Kremlin"
• “The art of preserving art. Restoration in the Moscow Kremlin Museums "
• "The Golden Age of the English Court: From Henry VIII to Charles I"
• "India. Jewels that conquered the world "

Ivan the Great Bell Tower today

In addition to being a tourist attraction, the belfry fulfills its main purpose. Its bells sounded again after an almost 75-year hiatus, in honor of Easter holidays in 1992. It was on the Ivan the Great Tower that the first bells began to ring on the days of the main church holidays.

Before the bells started working again, they passed the examination. Less often than others, the huge Festive Bell is struck. Since it requires several bell ringers to work with it. The bell tongue weighs 2 thousand kg. On the upper tier, located at an altitude of 80 m, an observation deck is open. Visitors can climb it during the warmer months. However, the path of 329 steps must be covered on foot.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The museum and the observation deck on the upper tier of the tower are available for visiting only during the warm season (May-September). The composition of the group should not exceed 10 people. Children under 14 years old are not allowed. Sessions are held daily, strictly in time. Day off - Thursday. Tickets are sold at the box office near the Kutafya Tower 45 minutes before the start of the tour. Ticket price 250 rubles.

Where is the Bell Tower and how to get there

The object is located at: Cathedral Square, Kremlin, Moscow. Tourists are advised to choose the metro in order to arrive at the stations closest to the Kremlin:

• Sokolnicheskaya line - "Library named after Lenin "," Okhotny Ryad "
• Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line - "Borovitskaya"
• Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line - "Revolution Square"
• Filyovskaya line - "Aleksandrovsky Sad"

Ivan the Great Bell Tower of the Moscow Kremlin on the map

Bell tower - tower with an open tier (ringing tier) for bells. Placed next to the temple or included in its composition. They are located, as a rule, on the western side of the temple. Built-in belfries can be installed in the drums of the temple heads. Such temples are called "under the bells".

Bell towers are known in temple architecture:

pillar-like

tent

Pillar-like and tent bell towers are:

single-tiered;

multi-tiered.

In terms of the bell towers are divided into:

square;

octahedral;

round.

Pillar-like bell towers are divided into:

big(they are 40-50 meters high and stand separately from the temple building);

small ( are usually part of the temple complex).

The variants of small bell towers known now differ in their location: either above the western entrance to the church, or above the gallery in the northwestern corner.

Fig.a (3.11). The large pillar-shaped octahedral bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral, 17th century. Vologda;

Fig.b (3.12). Small tent-roofed bell tower of St. John the Theologian monastery, Ryazan region,

The most common type of bell tower is the now classic one-tier octagonal hipped-roof bell tower. This type of bell towers was especially widespread in the 17th century.

Occasionally, multi-tiered hipped-roof bell towers were built , although the second tier, located above the main tier of ringing, as a rule, did not have bells and played a decorative role. The number of tiers with open openings can be from one to three with heights from floor to ceiling of the lower open tier of at least 4.0 m, and of the upper tier at least 3.0 m. difficulties in synchronizing the actions of the bell ringers.

The ascent to the bell tower must be carried out using an internal staircase with a handrail at least 0.8 m wide.

Fig. A (3.13).Staircase in the multi-tiered bell tower of the Anno-Conception Church;

Fig.b (3.14).Staircase to the bell tower of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Sheets.

Warrior - this is a structure built on the wall of the temple or a structure installed next to it with openings for hanging bells. Belfries are arranged in the form of a covered gallery-platform or wall with one- or multi-tiered openings for hanging bells on horizontal beams, which can be ringed from ground level using a rope.

Types of belfries:

wall-shaped - in the form of a wall with openings;

pillar-like - tower structures with a multifaceted base with openings for bells in the upper tier;

ward type - rectangular, with a covered vaulted arcade, with supports along the perimeter of the walls.

Fig. A (3.15).Belfry of the Assumption Cathedral of the ward type, XVII century. Rostov the Great

Fig.b (3.16).Orthodox temple on Santorini island in Greece. Wall belfry

The dimensions of the openings are determined by the architecture of the bell tower (belfry), the diameter of the bells and the conditions for the free propagation of sound. To propagate the sound of the bell ringing to the maximum distance, the maximum possible dimensions of the bell tower openings are required. Belfries-walls have an advantage, where the bells are almost completely open and there are no obstacles to the propagation of sound. However, in this case, problems arise with the organization of the bell ringer, protecting it from precipitation.

There are three ways to extract sound from bells:

1.Shaking or swinging the bell. This is the oldest ringing made by swinging the bell with the tongue free.

2. Hitting on it hammer or a mallet. It is almost never used in worship, since sound production is carried out by means of a hammer blow from a mechanical drive.

3.Striking the edge of the bell with my tongue. Rarely used in world practice, ringing a bell by swinging the tongue while the bell is stationary. It was believed that this type of bell ringing existed only in Russia.

Each of the three described methods requires special devices for the production of ringing, hanging and placing bells, a special design of belfry openings, and even determines the nature of the bell structures (Fig. 3.17; 3.18).

To control the bell ringing, a bell-ringing platform, made of wood or metal reinforcement, should be provided. It is located at a distance of 1.7 m from the bottom of the bell tower beam and has dimensions in the plan of about 1.5 × 1 m with a ladder, a handrail with a height of at least 1.1 m, a stand up to 1 m high for attaching the rods of ring bells to the "comb" and pedals for attaching rods of large bells.

Fig. A (3.17).Sound extraction from the bell by shaking, the process is mechanized

Fig.b (3.18).extracting sound by striking the edge of the bell with the tongue

The minimum number of bells is three: one large and two small, ringing bells, for example, bells weighing 14, 8, 4 kg. Such a selection of three small bells with a total weight of 26 kg makes it possible to develop the scale in the future. Most often, there are 6 - 8 bells in the ringing.

The basic rule for hanging bells is a gradual increase in the weight of the bells from right to left of the bells' platform.

Beams for suspension of small (ringing bells weighing 4 - 52 kg) and medium (weighing 52 - 240 kg) bells should be placed in the openings of the bell tower at a height of 2.5 - 2.7 m from the floor level. Cross-sectional beams of large cross-section for hanging large bells (weighing 240 - 1400 kg) should be placed inside the tier of the bell tower at a height of 3.5 m, ensuring the distance from the floor level to the lower chord of the bell is at least 2 m. Small (ringing) bells are located, as a rule, in the western opening of the bell tower at the bell-ringing platform, from which the bell-ringer must see the entrance area of ​​the church, including: the beginning and end of the religious procession, the bishop's entrance. The optimal size of the gap between the beam and the bell is 45 mm.

Openings in bell towers should have fences 1.0 - 1.2 m high, serving for safety, as well as fastening bell rods. Aperture fencing can be blind or lattice to increase the size of the opening and unimpeded sound propagation.

Figure 3.19. Hanging options for bells

On the upper closed tiers of bell towers, it is possible to install chimes with mechanical transmission to the bell towers. The use of technical means of sound reinforcement of bell ringing is not recommended, and the use instead of bell ringing technical means of sound reproduction is not allowed.

Address: Russia, Moscow, Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin
Start of construction: 1505 year
End of construction: 1508 year
Architect: Bon Fryazin
Height: 81 m.
Coordinates: 55 ° 45 "03.3" N 37 ° 37 "05.5" E
Cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower, which is located in the Moscow Kremlin, has another name: the Church-Bell Tower of St. John of the Ladder. The temple is a very ancient architectural monument - like the Assumption Cathedral, its history goes back more than 500 years.

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower is a kind of architectural center of the Moscow Kremlin, uniting all its buildings into a single ensemble.

History of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in Moscow: How did it all start?

The history of the church-bell tower of Ivan the Great officially begins in 1329, when the church of Ivan Climacus was built on the site of the present church with the characteristic name "under the Bell".

View of the bell tower from Ivanovskaya square

This church did not last long - exactly until 1505, and already in the same year, the architect Fryazin, specially invited from Italy, began construction new church... The construction of the new church was timed to coincide with the death of Prince Ivan III and was fully completed in 1508. Muscovites literally marveled at such high stone churches, Moscow, and even the whole of Russia has never seen: after all, the height of the temple at the highest point was 81 meters.

In 1600, the Church of Ivan the Great was thoroughly modernized by Boris Godunov - an additional cylindrical tier was added to it. Surely many are familiar with one common expression: "to the whole of Ivanovskaya." So, it went from these places - next to the Cathedral of Ivan the Great (from his east side) there was a square that was called Ivanovskaya. It was on this square "in the whole of Ivanovskaya" that the heralds voiced princely decrees, and the executioners punished the guilty.

View of the bell tower from Cathedral Square

Construction of the bell tower

In 1532 it was decided to attach a large bell tower to the building of the Cathedral of Ivan the Great. This task was entrusted to the Italian architect Petrok Maly Fryazin. The architect coped with the task by adding a belfry to the church, together with a church, which was named in honor of the Resurrection of the Lord. In this church, a bell weighing one thousand poods (more than 1.5 kilotons) was installed, called "Evangelist". The temple was located on the 3rd tier of the entire architectural complex, and in order to get into it, a special staircase was built. At the beginning of the 17th century, at the initiative of Mikhail Romanov, the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord was transformed into the Assumption Belfry. And in the 30s of the same century, during the patriarchal period of Father Filaret, the temple of Ivan the Great was supplemented by another structure - an extension with a tent made of tiles and pyramids made of white stone. The annex in honor of the patriarch was named Filaretovskaya.

The fate of the Cathedral of Ivan the Great during the war with Napoleon

Russia suffered a lot during the aggressive Napoleonic aggression of 1812. And it was during this difficult time that the Assumption Belfry and the Filaretovskaya annex were destroyed. One of the few buildings that survived at that time was the bell tower with the "Blagovestnik".

View of the bell tower from the Assumption Cathedral

It is known for certain that the French stole a domed cross from it, which has not yet been found. At present, there is another cross on the bell tower - an iron cross, eight-pointed in shape with an ornamental covering in the form of gilded copper sheets. The inscription "King of Glory" is engraved on the upper crossbar of the cross.

Restoration of destroyed buildings in the post-war period

The Philaret annex and the belfry, destroyed by French vandals, were rebuilt only 7 years after the end of the war - in 1819. The author of the project was the Swiss architect, who was working in Moscow at the time, Dominico Gilardi.

About bells on the Ivan the Great Bell Tower

If you call exact number bells installed on the Filaretov annex, the belfry and the bell tower of Ivan the Great, then it will be equal to 21. in the 20th century.

The Assumption Bell is the largest operating bell in the world

Only three bells are suspended on the belfry and the Filaretovskaya annex. The largest of them is Uspensky, also called Festive. Exact value its mass is 65 tons 320 kilograms. This bell was cast by renowned master casters of the 19th century Rusinov and Zavyalov. The Assumption bell is rightfully considered the largest of the really operating bells and the best in terms of sound characteristics - the purity of tone and the strength of sound.

Bell Howler

Another large bell is called Reut (or Howler), its weight is 2 times less than the Uspensky bell: 32 tons 760 kg. The bell is much older than the Dormition bell - in 1622 the Howler was cast by master Andrey Chekhov.

Seven hundred bell

In the 18th century, the Russian foundry I. Motorin cast another bell for the bell tower of Ivan the Great - Daily or Seven-hundredth. It also hangs on the Filaretovsky annex and weighs no less than 13 tons 71 kilograms.

Of course, it is the smallest in comparison with the previous 2, but at the same time such a 13-ton bell would immediately become a tourist attraction, place it in other cities of the world.

And the rest ..

The remaining 18 bells are located on the middle and lower tiers of the bell tower. In the lower tier there are 6 pegs suspended, the names of which are given below:

• 1. Swan
• 2. Bear (daily bell)
• 3. Wide
• 4. Novgorod
• 5. Rostov
• 6. Slobodsky

There are 9 bells in the middle tier. Two of them with the same name Korsunskie are distinguished by their whitish color. The other seven are listed below:

Bell tower domes

• 1. New (renamed from Uspensky);
• 2. Nemchin
• 3. Nameless
• 4. Danilovsky
• 5. Deaf
• 6. Korsunsky (not related to the previously named)
• 7. Maryinsky

As for the upper tier of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, there are 3 unnamed bells.

Ivan the Great Bell Tower today

Today Ivan the Great Bell Tower is a museum of the history of the Moscow Kremlin... Almost the entire first floor of the Assumption Belfry is occupied by an exhibition hall, where art monuments from both the Kremlin itself and those brought from many other museums around the world are displayed. The exhibits are diverse, including such interesting examples as, for example, a panorama of the capital or elements of architectural white-stone structures used in the construction business of the 14th century.