Who built the Pokrovsky Cathedral. St. Basil's Cathedral - history and mysteries

Address: Russia, Moscow, Red Square, 2
Start of construction: 1555
End of construction: 1561
Number of domes: 10
Height: 65 m.
Coordinates: 55 ° 45 "09.4" N 37 ° 37 "23.5" E
Cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation
Official website: www.saintbasil.ru

On July 12, 2011, the most famous Orthodox church in Russia, the Intercession Cathedral, or St. Basil's Cathedral, celebrated its 450th anniversary.

History of the cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral is just a popular name for the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God on the Moat. What kind of moat is this? The fact is that until the 19th century, Red Square was surrounded by a defensive moat, which was filled up in 1813. It was near this moat that the temple was built.

Until the middle of the 16th century, a small church stood on the southern side of Red Square. It is not known for certain whether it was made of stone or wood, but most researchers nevertheless lean towards the version of the Trinity Church cut down from wood.

This is probably why one of the churches of the temple was consecrated in the name of the Trinity. In the middle of the 16th century, the wooden church was demolished, and in its place a new one was founded - also wooden. And only a year later, in 1555, it was dismantled and a stone church was laid in honor of the capture of Kazan.

And who built the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed?

There are several versions of who was the architect of the miracle of Russia.

According to one of them, the architects Postnik and Barma worked on the creation of the temple. When they finished construction, Ivan the Terrible allegedly ordered both eyes to be gouged out so that they could not repeat their masterpiece. However, it is documented that Postnik later participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin, and therefore did not lose his sight.

According to another version, Postnik and Barma were one person - the Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. In the annals we can find references to both the two architects: "... God gave him [Ivan the Terrible] two Russian masters on the river Postnik and Barm, and was wise and convenient for such a wonderful business," and about one thing: "Postnikov's son, according to Barma ".

The third version says that an overseas architect, probably from Italy, worked on the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed - hence the unusual appearance of the temple. However, this version was never confirmed.

10 churches on one foundation.

The temple got its popular name thanks to the arrival of St. Basil the Blessed, built at the end of the 16th century. In 1557, the famous holy fool and miracle worker Vasily died, who sat for a long time at the temple and bequeathed to bury himself next to it. By order of Fyodor Ioannovich, a church was built, in which the relics of the saint rest.

The main advantage of St. Basil's Cathedral is its unusual architecture. If you look at the temple from above, you can see how it was built. In the center is the main pillar-like church in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God.

Around it there are four axial churches and four smaller ones. Each of them is also consecrated in honor of one of the holidays, which were the decisive battles in the capture of Kazan. All nine churches rise on a common base, a bypass gallery and internal stepped vaults. Additionally adjacent to the parish of St. Basil the Blessed and the tent-roofed bell tower, built at the end of the 17th century.

Each church is crowned with an onion dome, traditional for Russian temple architecture. Each onion is unique - carvings, patterns and all sorts of colors create a festive, festive look. But scientists are still arguing what exactly this or that paint symbolizes. According to one version, such variegated colors can be explained by the dream of the blessed Andrew the Fool, the one who was honored with the vision of the Most Holy Theotokos. Tradition says that he saw in a dream Heavenly Jerusalem, and in it gardens with beautiful trees and unspeakable beauty of fruits.

Temple structure

There are 10 domes in total. Nine domes over the temple (according to the number of thrones):

Protection of the Virgin (center),
Holy Trinity (east),
Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (zap.),
Gregory of Armenian (north-west),
Alexander Svirsky (southeast),
Varlaam Khutynsky (south-west),
John the Merciful (formerly John, Paul and Alexander of Constantinople) (north-east),
Nicholas the Wonderworker Velikoretsky (southern),
Adrian and Natalia (formerly Cyprian and Justina) (north))
Plus one dome above 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 churches, the thrones of which are 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),
- Entry to Jerusalem,
- in honor of the martyr. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of Saints 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 Armenian (September 30).

All of 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 Protection of the Mother of God, topped with a tent with a small dome. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages.

In 1588, from the northeast, a side-altar was added to the cathedral, consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed (1469-1552), whose relics were located at the site of the cathedral's construction. The name of this chapel gave the cathedral a second, everyday name. The chapel of St. Basil the Blessed is adjoined by the chapel of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, in which in 1589 Blessed John of Moscow was buried (at first the chapel was consecrated in honor of the Deposition of the Robe, but in 1680 it was rededicated as the Nativity of the Mother of God). In 1672, the uncovering of the relics of John the Blessed took place there, and in 1916 it was rededicated in the name of Blessed John, the Moscow miracle worker.

A tent-roofed bell tower was built in the 1670s.

The cathedral has been restored several times. In the 17th century, asymmetric annexes were added, tents over the porches, intricate decorative treatment of the heads (originally they were gold), ornamental painting on the outside and inside (originally the cathedral itself was white).

In the main, Pokrovskaya, church there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin church of Chernigov miracle workers dismantled in 1770, and in the side-altar of the Entrance to Jerusalem there is an iconostasis from the Alexander Cathedral that 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

Podklet

There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral. Churches and galleries stand on a single foundation - a basement, consisting of several rooms. Strong brick walls of the basement (up to 3 m in thickness) 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 corrugated vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - air vents. Together with the "breathing" building material - brick - they provide a special indoor climate at any time of the year.

Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. Deep niche-hiding places in it were used as storage facilities. They were closed by doors, from which hinges are now preserved.

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

They got into the basement from the upper central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God along a white-stone staircase inside the wall. Only the initiates knew about her. 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 Intercession Cathedral.

Also on display are two icons of the 17th century. - "The 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 SAINT BASIL THE BLESSED

The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial of St. Basil the Blessed. The stylized inscription on the wall tells about the construction of this church after the canonization of the saint at the behest of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

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

Oil painting of the church was made for the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral (1905). In the dome is the Savior Almighty, in the drum - the forefathers, in the crosshairs of the vault - Deesis (Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist), in the sails of the vault - the Evangelists.

On the western wall there is a temple image "The 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, Saint Anastasia, Martyr Irene.

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 traditional Old Russian ornament in the form of towels.

The iconostasis was made 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 "Savior on the throne".

The iconostasis includes earlier icons: "The Mother of God of Smolensk" of the 16th century. and the local image “St. Basil the Blessed against the background of the Kremlin and Red Square "XVIII century.

Above the burial place of St. Basil the Blessed installed cancer, 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-scale 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 Kasli cast iron slabs.

The Church of St. Basil the Blessed was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decoration was restored. August 15, 1997, on the day of commemoration of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and festive services were resumed in the church.

SECOND FLOOR

Galleries and porches

An external bypass gallery runs along the perimeter of the cathedral around all the churches. It was originally open. In the middle of the XIX century. the glazed gallery became part of the interior of the cathedral. Arched entranceways lead from the outer gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it to the inner passages.

The central church of the Intercession of Our Lady is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the tops of the churches. In the second half of the 17th century. the gallery was painted with floral ornaments. Later, story oil painting appeared in the cathedral, which was repeatedly updated. Tempera painting has now been revealed at the gallery. Oil painting of the 19th century has been preserved in the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints combined with floral ornaments.

Carved brick portals 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 plasters, which allows you to see its decoration. The embossed details are lined with specially molded curved bricks, and the shallow decor is carved in place.

Previously, daylight penetrated the gallery from the windows above the aisles to the gulbishche. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns of the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-domed tops of the outrigger lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of the cathedral.
The floor of the gallery is laid out of bricks "in a Christmas tree". Bricks from the 16th century have been preserved here. - darker and more resistant to abrasion than modern restoration bricks.

The arch of the western section of the gallery is covered with a flat brick ceiling. It demonstrates a unique for the XVI century. an engineering technique for overlapping: many small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of shaped bricks.

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

Two galleries unite the side-altars of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide areas create the impression of a “city of churches”. After passing the mysterious labyrinth of the inner gallery, you can get to the cathedral's porch grounds. Their vaults 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 foundations of the pillars or columns are preserved - the remains of the decoration of the entrance.

CHURCH OF ALEXANDER SVIRSKY

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

In 1552, on the day of memory of Alexander Svirsky, one of the important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich 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 a 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 "Christmas tree" pattern, profiled cornices, stepped window sills. The walls of the church are covered with a painting imitating brickwork. The dome features 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 (tyabla). The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with hanging sheets, skillfully embroidered by craftswomen. On velvet swaddles there is a traditional image of the Calvary cross.

CHURCH OF VARLAAM OF KHUTYNSKY

The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of the Monk Varlaam of Khutynsky.

This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral, 15.2 m high. Its base has the shape of a quadrangle, elongated from north to south with an apse displacement 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.

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

The Tyablovy 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 displacement of the Royal Doors to the right.

Of particular interest is the separately hanging icon "The Vision of the Sexton Tarasiy". It was written in Novgorod at the end of the 16th century. The plot of the icon is based on the legend about the vision of the sexton of the Khutynsky monastery of the disasters that threaten Novgorod: floods, fires, "pestilence".

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

CHURCH OF THE LORD'S ENTRANCE TO JERUSALEM

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

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

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

The existing iconostasis was moved in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with tracery gilded pewter overlays, which give the lightness of the four-tiered structure.

In the middle of the XIX century. the iconostasis was supplemented with carved wooden details. The icons in the bottom row tell about the Creation of the world.
One of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral is represented in the church - the icon “St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life "of the 17th century. The icon, which is unique in its iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

In the centerpiece of the icon is the noble prince, and around him there are 33 hallmarks with scenes from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: the Battle of the Neva, the prince's trip to the khan's headquarters).

CHURCH OF GREGORY OF ARMENIAN

The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Monk Gregory, the enlightener of Great Armenia (died in 335). He converted the tsar and the whole country to Christianity, was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is commemorated on September 30 (October 13 N.C.). In 1552, on this day, an important event of the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arskaya tower of Kazan.

One of the four small churches of the cathedral (15m high) is a quadrangle, turning into a low octagon. Its base is elongated from north to south with a displacement of the apse. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to 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, half-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.

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

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

The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with silk and velvet sheets with the image of the Calvary crosses. The interior of the church is complemented by the so-called "skinny" candles - large painted wooden candlesticks of an old form. In their upper part there is a metal base in which tapers were placed.

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

CHURCH OF CYPRIAN AND JUSTIN

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

This is one of the four large churches of the Intercession Cathedral. Its height is 20.9 m. The high octahedral pillar is crowned with a light drum and a dome, which depicts the Virgin of the Burning Bush. 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 - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of gospel parables and scenes from the Old Testament.

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

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

CHURCH OF NIKOLA VELIKORETSKY

The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and later received the name "Nikola Velikoretsky".

In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was brought in a 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 octahedral 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 walls and vaults. 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 the prophets, above - the apostles, in the vault - the image of the Almighty Savior.

The iconostasis is richly decorated with stucco floral decoration with gilding. The icons are painted in oil in narrow profiled frames. In the local row is placed the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Life of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with engraving on levkas imitating brocade.

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

At the end of the 18th century. the floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During the restoration work, a fragment of the original coating of oak blocks was discovered. This is the only site 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 was consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, by the name of which the entire temple was often named.

One of the four large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octahedral 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: half-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. The stepped windowsills in combination with the whitewashed smoothness of the walls and vaults make the Trinity Church especially light and elegant. Under the light drum, “voices” are built into the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church illuminates the oldest Russian chandelier in the cathedral of the late 16th century.

On the basis of restoration studies, the form of the original, so-called "tyabla" iconostasis was established ("tyabla" - wooden beams with grooves, between which the icons were attached close to each other). 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 of the second half of the 16th century.

CHURCH OF 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, 14.9 m high. The walls of the quadrangle turn into a low octagon with a cylindrical light drum. The church is interesting for the original ceiling system with a wide dome, in which the composition "Savior Not Made by Hands" is located.

Wall oil painting made in the middle of the 19th century. and reflects in its stories the then change of the name of the church. In connection with the transfer of the throne of the cathedral church of St. Gregory of Armenia, it was rededicated in memory of the enlightener of Great Armenia.

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

The five-tiered iconostasis combines baroque and classical elements. This is the only altar barrier of the mid-19th century in the cathedral. It was made especially for this church.

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities, the churches returned to their original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian philanthropists, the management of the Moscow International Currency Exchange contributed to the restoration of the church's interior 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 the ancient belfry.

By the second half of the 17th century. the old belfry fell into disrepair and fell into disrepair. In the 1680s. it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands today.

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

The ribs of the tent are decorated with multicolored tiles with white, yellow, blue and brown glaze. The edges are covered with curly green tiles. The tent ends with a small onion dome with an eight-pointed cross. There are small windows in the tent - the so-called "rumors", designed to amplify the sound of the bells.

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

The height of the temple is 65 meters.

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

The Intercession Cathedral is one of the most famous sights of Russia. For many inhabitants of the planet Earth, it is a symbol of Moscow (the same as the Eiffel Tower for Paris).

In 1561, one of the most famous churches in Russia, the Intercession Cathedral, or, as it is called otherwise, the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, was consecrated. The Kultura.RF portal recalled interesting facts from the history of its creation.

Memorial temple

The Intercession Cathedral is not just a church, but a memorial temple erected in honor of the annexation of the Kazan Khanate to the Russian state. The main battle, in which the Russian troops won a victory, took place on the day of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. And the temple was consecrated in honor of this Christian holiday. The cathedral consists of separate churches, each of which is also consecrated in honor of the holidays in which the decisive battles for Kazan took place - the Trinity, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and others.

A grandiose construction in record time

Initially, a wooden Trinity Church stood on the site of the cathedral. Temples were erected around it during the campaigns to Kazan - they celebrated the loud victories of the Russian army. When Kazan finally fell, Metropolitan Macarius suggested that Ivan the Terrible rebuild the architectural ensemble in stone. He wanted to surround the central temple with seven churches, but for the sake of symmetry, the number was increased to eight. So, on one foundation, 9 independent temples and a belfry were built, they were connected by vaulted passages. Outside, the churches were surrounded by an open gallery, which was called a gulbische - it was a kind of church porch. Each temple was crowned with its own dome with a unique pattern and original drum decoration. The 65-meter-high building, grandiose at that time, was built in only six years - from 1555 to 1561. Until 1600 it was the tallest building in Moscow.

Temple in honor of the soothsayer

Although the official name of the cathedral is the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, everyone knows it as the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. According to legend, the famous Moscow miracle worker collected money for the construction of the temple, and then was buried at its walls. The holy fool Vasily the Blessed walked barefoot through the Moscow streets, almost without clothes almost all year, preaching mercy and help to others. There were legends about his visionary gift: they say he predicted the Moscow fire of 1547. The son of Ivan the Terrible Fyodor Ioannovich ordered to build a church dedicated to St. Basil the Blessed. She became part of the Intercession Cathedral. The church was the only temple that always worked - all year round, day and night. Later, according to its name, parishioners began to call the cathedral the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed.

Louis Bischbois. Lithograph "Church of St. Basil the Blessed"

Vitaly Grafov. Moscow miracle worker Blessed Vasily. 2005

The Tsar's Treasury and Lectern at the Execution Ground

There are no basements in the cathedral. Instead, a common foundation was built - a basement covered with vaults without supporting pillars. They were ventilated through special narrow holes - air vents. Initially, the premises were used as a warehouse - the royal treasury and the values of some wealthy Moscow families were kept there. Later, the narrow entrance to the basement was laid - it was found only during the restoration of the 1930s.

With its colossal external dimensions, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is quite small inside. Perhaps because it was originally built as a memorial monument. In winter, the cathedral was completely closed, as it was not heated. When services began to be held in the temple, especially on major church holidays, very few people were placed inside. Then the lectern was transferred to the Execution Ground, and the cathedral seemed to serve as a huge altar.

Russian architect or European master

It is still not known for certain who built the St. Basil's Cathedral. Researchers have several options. One of them - the cathedral was erected by the ancient Russian architects Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Barma. According to another version, Yakovlev and Barma were actually one person. The third version says that a foreign architect became the author of the cathedral. After all, the composition of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed has no analogies in ancient Russian architecture, but in Western European art you can find prototypes of the building.

Whoever the architect is, there are sad legends about his future fate. According to them, when Ivan the Terrible saw the temple, he was amazed at its beauty and ordered to blind the architect so that he would never repeat his magnificent construction anywhere. Another legend says that a foreign builder was executed at all - for the same reason.

The iconostasis with a twist

The iconostasis for St. Basil's Cathedral was created in 1895 by the architect Andrei Pavlinov. This is the so-called iconostasis with a twist - it is so large for a small church that it continues on the side walls. It is decorated with ancient icons - the Mother of God of Smolensk of the 16th century and the image of St. Basil the Blessed, painted in the 18th century.

Also, the temple is decorated with paintings - they were created on the walls of the building in different years. Here Vasily the Blessed, the Mother of God is depicted, the main dome is decorated with the face of the Almighty Savior.

Iconostasis in St. Basil's Cathedral. 2016. Photo: Vladimir d "Ar

"Lazarus, put it in place!"

The cathedral was nearly destroyed several times. During the Patriotic War of 1812, French stables were housed here, and after that they were going to blow up the temple. Already in Soviet times, Stalin's associate Lazar Kaganovich proposed dismantling the cathedral so that there would be more space for parades and demonstrations on Red Square. He even created a model of the square, and the building of the temple was easily removed from it. But Stalin, seeing the architectural sample, said: "Lazar, put it back!"

Not far from the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower, in the very heart, is the world-famous Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. It has several more names: the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, as well as the Intercession Cathedral. Until the beginning of the 17th century, this monument of Russian architecture had the name Trinity, since an old wooden church was built in honor of the Holy Trinity. Let's take a short excursion into history and find out who built the St. Basil's Cathedral and where, in fact, this cathedral is located.

The history of the creation of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed

In 1552, on the day of the Protection of the Mother of God, Russian soldiers began an assault on Kazan, which, as you know, ended in victory over the Golden Horde. In honor of her, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered to erect a cathedral that would perpetuate such a joyful event.

The construction of the stone church of St. Basil the Blessed on Red Square began two years later on the site where the Trinity Church of wood used to be, and where, according to legend, the holy fool was buried, after whom the cathedral was named. Legend has it that Basil the Blessed personally collected money for this Temple, but no one knows whether it was so or not. After all, the exact date of the holy fool's death has not been established. And nevertheless, Fyodor, the son of Ivan the Terrible, ordered the creation of the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed in the Intercession Church, where his relics were placed.

The Cathedral of the Intercession took six years to build. The author of the main idea of the temple is Metropolitan Macarius, and it was implemented by two architects, Barma and Postnik. Another version of this says that the Pskov artisan, nicknamed Barma, built the Intercession Cathedral. Another legend says that Ivan the Terrible was delighted with the beautiful church and did not want to see such a beautiful cathedral built somewhere else. Therefore, he asked the architect if he would be able to erect an equally beautiful building. The master boldly replied that he could do it, and then the king became angry and ordered to blind the architect.

St.Basil's Cathedral style

The building of the Intercession Cathedral is a structure consisting of a central tent and eight main towers located around it. In plan, this is a figure consisting of two superposed squares, which together form an eight-pointed star, the symbol of the Most Holy Theotokos. Also, the number eight symbolizes the day when Jesus Christ was resurrected and is a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the way to the newborn Christ. The combination of two squares is a symbol of the fact that the Gospel is extended to all cardinal points.

The building of the temple was erected from a new material at that time - brick. Decor elements, foundation and plinth were lined with white bricks. The tent of the central church is decorated with polychrome tiles and decorated with kokoshniks. The architectural design of the facade and interior in the cathedral has similar motives.

The temple, still unfinished in 1557, was consecrated by Metropolitan Macarius in the presence of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. For a long time, the Intercession Cathedral, located on Red Square, was.

During a terrible fire that happened in 1737, the Intercession Cathedral was seriously damaged, but then it was restored, and in the 17th century it was rebuilt again. At this time, the tent-roofed bell tower was merged with the temple itself. At this time, the cathedral was so colorful decorated, as we can observe it today. In its design, a beautiful ornamental fresco painting appeared on the arches and pillars of the galleries.

At the end of the last century in the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, after a long break, an all-night vigil was held, and then a liturgy. Every year, on the feast of the Intercession, a divine service is performed here.

(St. Basil's Cathedral) is a striking monument of Russian architecture located on Red Square. The magnificent and solemn view of the cathedral with unusual multi-colored heads, loved by Muscovites and well-remembered by foreigners, made it one of the main symbols not only of Moscow, but of the whole of Russia.

The temple was built in 1555-1561 by an unknown architect (there are different versions) by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the victory over the Kazan Khanate and the capture of Kazan, which fell on the day of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. Subsequently, it was rebuilt several times.

The peculiarity of the temple is that in fact these are 9 separate churches, united by a common foundation. In the center is the pillarless Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, around it are grouped 8 smaller churches: the Trinity, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of the Velikoretskaya icon), the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the Martyrs Adrian and Natalia, St. John the Merciful, Alexander Svirsky, Barlaam of Khutyansky, Gregory ... The thrones of the churches are consecrated in honor of Orthodox holidays and days of memory of the saints who fell on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan.

Architecture

The architectural appearance of the Intercession Cathedral is unique. Pretentious and solemn, like a painted gingerbread, at first glance it seems like a disorderly heap of multi-colored domes, but in reality it is not so. The building of the cathedral has a clear structure and is a rhombus inscribed in a square, forming an eight-pointed star in the plan. In fact, these are 9 separate churches, united by a common base (basement): in the center is the pillarless Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, ending with a high tent with a small gilded dome, 8 smaller churches are grouped around it, crowned with relief onion domes of different colors. On the south side there is a two-tiered hipped-roof bell tower, and on the east side there is a chapel in honor of St. Basil the Blessed. The building is surrounded by a closed gallery-gulbische, which is adjoined by two massive porches with a hipped roof.

The height of the cathedral is 65 meters.

In total, the Cathedral of the Intercession is decorated with 11 domes, 9 of which are located above the churches, one is above the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed, and another (very small) is above the bell tower. Of these, 9 domes are distinguished by a unique relief and coloring: colored spikes, rhombuses, ornaments; the meaning of their colors is not known for certain, but it is believed that the temple symbolizes Heavenly Jerusalem. According to the assumption of the Russian writer Nikolai Chaev (1824 - 1914), the color of the domes is explained by the dream of the blessed Andrew the Fool (Constantinople), who dreamed of Heavenly Jerusalem with gardens with many flowering trees and fruits of unspeakable beauty.

The decoration of the temple looks splendid, but laconic: it includes pants, half columns, kokoshniks and weights, traditional for Russian temple architecture. The gallery along the entire perimeter is painted with images of flowers and floral ornaments. The walls are decorated with facade icons of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos with the forthcoming Basil and John the Blessed (southern wall of the bell tower) and Our Lady of the Sign with saints in the fields (eastern facade).

History of the Intercession Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat got its name from its proximity, which ran along Red Square along the eastern wall of the Kremlin in the 16-19th centuries. However, in colloquial speech, the official name of the temple is practically not used: it became better known as St. Basil's Cathedral - in honor of the most famous Moscow holy fool and miracle worker. - a legendary personality in the history of Moscow; in the past, on the site of the Intercession Cathedral, there was a wooden Trinity Church (which is on the Moat), in the cemetery at which the holy fool was buried. After his canonization in 1588, a chapel in his honor was added to the Intercession Cathedral over the burial place of the wonderworker. Subsequently, the people began to call the whole cathedral by the name of the miracle worker.

The temple was built in 1555-1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan.

The history of St. Basil's Cathedral is full of mysteries and white spots: in particular, it is not known for certain who its architect was. According to the most common version, it was built by architects Ivan Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, however, it is considered obsolete. There is a version that the legendary Barma and Postnik are one and the same person (Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma), as well as a theory that the cathedral could have been built by an unknown Italian architect (since a significant part of the Kremlin's buildings were built by Italians), which has not yet been found convincing confirmation. A widespread urban legend says that after the construction, Tsar Ivan the Terrible, amazed by the beauty of the cathedral, ordered to blind the architects so that they would not build anything like this, however, in reality this is unlikely: if Postnik Yakovlev was indeed one of the architects, then after the Intercession Cathedral he received participation in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin and, obviously, could not be blinded. Although, again, there is a version that these were different Postniki.

The walls of the temple were built of red brick, which was a rather innovative building material for Moscow at that time. To protect the rare material from the effects of atmospheric precipitation, the outside walls of the building were painted in red and white colors, emphasizing the masonry. In 1588, by order of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed was added to the church, executed in the form of an independent pillarless church with a separate entrance.

There is not much information about how the Intercession Cathedral looked initially. It is known that in the past, the bypass gallery encircling it was open and did not have massive hipped-roof porches and floral ornaments: the vault above the gallery and two porches above the stairs were added in the second half of the 17th century, when the building underwent significant reconstruction. In the same period, new churches were added to the cathedral: the Deposition of the Mother of God, the Holy Virgin Theodosia and others. According to the Russian historian Peter Khavsky, by 1722 there were 18 thrones in the cathedral: the Life-Giving Trinity, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Nicholas Velikoretsky, the Beheading of John the Baptist, Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa, Barlaam Khutynsky, Apostle Andronicus, Gregory of Armenia, Cyprian and Justinia, Rizos Theotokos, Sergius of Radonezh, Basil the Great, Alexander Svirsky, Virgin Theodosia, Mary of Egypt, All Saints, Epiphany and Three Patriarchs.

The chapters also looked different: those colored figured domes for which St. Basil's Cathedral is known today appeared only at the end of the 16th century; the former were probably helmet-shaped, and their cover was destroyed by one of the city fires. Even their original number is questioned: it is known that during the restoration of 1784-1786 under the leadership of the architect Ivan Yakovlev, 8 small domes at the base of the tent were dismantled, which were recognized as later additions.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, the cathedral was plundered by the French, but immediately after the war it was repaired and consecrated. In 1817, when Red Square was reconstructed according to the project of Osip Bove, the retaining wall of the church from the side of Vasilyevsky Spusk and Moskvoretskaya Street was lined with stone, and a cast-iron fence was installed at the top.

In the Soviet years, St. Basil's Cathedral escaped demolition (although divine services were still banned in it) and became one of the first architectural monuments taken under state protection. Its museification began in 1918, and in 1923 it was decided to create a historical and architectural museum in it, which later became part of the State Historical Museum. Initially, the building was in a deplorable state, but already in the 1920s, repair and restoration work began in it, designed to return the cathedral to its original appearance and partially recreate the interiors of the 16-17 centuries. In 1931, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, previously installed in the central part of Red Square, was moved to the cathedral.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union - since 1991 - the building of the temple is in the joint use of the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Myths and legends

Being one of the most famous sights of Moscow and at the same time having a rather vague history, the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed simply had to acquire urban legends.

The most widespread legend concerns the construction of the temple: allegedly Tsar Ivan the Terrible, amazed by the incredible beauty of the building, ordered to blind its architects - Barma and Postnik - so that they could never and never build a temple more beautiful than in Moscow. In reality, this is unlikely: firstly, it is not known for certain which architects erected the building. In addition, it is not clear whether the legendary Barma and Postnik were different people - Ivan Barma and Postnik Yakovlev - or whether it was one person - Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. Be that as it may, after the construction of the Intercession Cathedral, Postnik Yakovlev participated in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin, which means he could not be blinded - if, again, these were not different people.

There is a legend that the image of the historical Kul-Sharif mosque destroyed by Russian troops during the capture of Kazan in 1552 is "encrypted" in the structure of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed: its 8 chapters allegedly symbolize 8 minarets of the destroyed mosque, and the 9th one dominates them to commemorate the victory ...

They say that Vasily the Blessed, foreseeing the victory over Kazan, collected money for the construction of the Intercession Cathedral and, shortly before his death in 1552, transferred it to Ivan the Terrible. However, this legend has no confirmation.

Not without the library of Ivan the Terrible! According to one of the legends, it was hidden just in the basements of the Intercession Cathedral. Unfortunately, in reality this is impossible: the building simply has no basements. The cathedral is erected on a massive basement, which rests on an artificial hill, and its foundation is not so deep. However, in the basement there were rooms for storing valuables; another urban legend says that they could have kept the royal treasury.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, when the French troops were leaving Moscow, Napoleon ordered to blow up the cathedral, however, the French failed to do this: supposedly the rain that had started extinguished the wicks and prevented the preparation of the building from blowing up. They say that Napoleon gave such an order in his hearts: he liked the cathedral so much that he wanted to move it to Paris, but he was told that this was impossible (what a surprise!).

In the 1930s, Lazar Kaganovich proposed to demolish the Intercession Cathedral so that there would be more space on Red Square for parades and demonstrations. According to the urban legend, he made a model of the Red Square with a removable building of the cathedral and brought it for a demonstration to Stalin to show how the cathedral interferes with the passage of cars and columns. Showing the model, he unexpectedly tore off the Cathedral of the Intercession from it in order to clearly show how much better it would be without it, but the surprised Stalin exclaimed: "Lazarus, put it back!" - and the cathedral was preserved.

Nowadays, St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most popular sights of Moscow, a must-see point on the maps of tourists coming to the capital. Its unusual and memorable appearance made it one of the wonders and symbols of Russia - and even those who have never been to Moscow will easily guess its domes, which are often printed on postcards and souvenirs, in books, textbooks and encyclopedias. If someone speaks or writes about Moscow and Russia, the words will most likely be illustrated by a photograph of the Intercession Cathedral.

At the same time, the townspeople really love him.

Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat located on Red Square, building 2. You can get to it on foot from metro stations "Okhotny Ryad" Sokolnicheskaya line, "Revolution square" Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, "Theatrical" Zamoskvoretskaya and "China town" Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya and Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya lines.

One of the most striking, majestic and mysterious architectural monuments of the capital is Vasily the Blessed. Back in the 16th century, wanderers and visiting people, visiting this cathedral, were forever fascinated by its stateliness and beauty. But there are still several legends in the world about who built the St. Basil's Cathedral.

History of St. Basil's Cathedral

The construction of the cathedral, and this is what the people call it, began in 1555. And in just 6 years, the builders erected a palace of unprecedented beauty from stone. The order on the foundation of the temple came from the Tsar of All Russia Ivan the Terrible in honor of the victory won by the Russian troops over the Kazan Khan. This event happened on one of the Orthodox holidays - the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, therefore this cathedral is often called the Temple of the Intercession of the Mother of God.

The history of St. Basil's Cathedral is still mysterious and unclear.

Legend one

The temple was built by an architect, whose real name is Postnik Yakovlev. He received such a nickname for the fact that he fasted carefully and for a long time. He was one of the most skilled craftsmen in Pskov. Later he was sent to Kazan to supervise the construction of the stone city. An interesting parable tells about the collection of money for the construction of a parish. Vasily the Blessed lived and begged in Moscow. He threw the collected coins over his right shoulder into one place, and no one dared to take at least one. Over time, when there was enough money, Vasily gave it to Ivan the Terrible.

But the facts show that this is just a beautiful fairy tale, since the holy fool died even before it was decided to build the cathedral. Nevertheless, it was at the site of the building that Vasily the Blessed was buried.

The second legend

Over the construction of the cathedral, two masters conjured at once - Postnik and Barma. Legend has it that as soon as Ivan the Terrible saw the constructed building, he was struck by its uniqueness and ensemble. To prevent the architects from repeating such beauty, the tsar ordered the architects to gouge out their eyes. But this version does not find confirmation, since the name of Postnik is found in later chronicles. It turns out that the master could be engaged in the construction of other buildings.

The third legend

The most realistic version is considered the following: the temple was erected under the guidance of an architect who came from Western Europe. Proof of this fact is considered to be an unusual style in which patterns of Russian and Western European architecture are intertwined. But this version has not been officially confirmed anywhere.

Throughout its long history, the temple could be destroyed or destroyed. But always some miracle saved this pride of Russia.

In the 18th century, during a fire in Moscow, the building was engulfed in flames, but courageous Muscovites saved the temple as best they could. As a result, the structure was damaged, but it survived. Later it was recreated in almost the same form as before the conflagration.

In the 19th century, when Napoleon entered the Russian capital, horse sheds were built in the cathedral. Later, when leaving Moscow, the emperor, in a rage, ordered not to leave a stone in this cathedral. The remarkable structure was about to be blown up. And again the heroic Muscovites and the Lord God helped to defend the temple. When the French soldiers began to light the fuses that went to the barrels of gunpowder, people began to extinguish the fire at the cost of their lives. And then the rain came to their aid. The downpour poured in with such overwhelming force that it extinguished all sparks.

Already in the 20th century, Kaganovich, showing the layout of the renovation and restructuring of Red Square to Joseph Stalin, removed the figurine of the temple, deciding to demolish it forever. But the supreme commander-in-chief said menacingly: "Lazarus, put it in place!"

In 1936, during the construction of highways, it was decided to destroy the temple, as it obstructed traffic. But the Moscow restorer Baranovsky came to his defense. The Kremlin received a telegram from him: "If you decide to blow up the temple, blow it up with me!"

This picturesque structure looks like an ensemble of churches. In the very center stands the Intercession Church, the tallest of all. There are 8 more side-chapels around it. Each temple is crowned with a dome. If you look at the cathedral from a bird's eye view, this building is a five-pointed star. It is a symbol of heavenly Jerusalem.

Each church is inherently unique and inimitable. They received their names from the names of the holidays, which were the decisive battles for Kazan.

In honor of the feast of the Trinity.
Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of the Velikoretsky image).
Palm Sunday, or the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
Martyrs Cyprian and Ustina. Later Adrian and Natalia.
Saints Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - until the 18th century, then John the Merciful.
Alexander Svirsky.
Varlaam Khutynsky;
Gregory of Armenian.

Later, another chapel was added in honor of the holy fool Basil the Blessed.

Each dome has its own various decorations - kokoshniks, cornices, windows and niches. All temples are connected by ceilings and vaults.

A special place is given to paintings depicting portraits of eminent persons and colorful landscape sketches. Everyone can feel the atmosphere of the times of Ivan the Terrible, if they carefully study the church utensils of that time.

At the very bottom is the basement, which forms the base of the cathedral. It consists of separate rooms, in which the treasury used to be hidden, and the rich townspeople brought here their acquired property.

It is impossible to tell about the beauty of this temple. In order to fall in love with this place forever, you must definitely visit it. Then pride will appear in the heart of any person that this unique and mysterious cathedral is located in Russia. It doesn't matter who built the St. Basil's Cathedral, this is a fantastic and stunningly beautiful symbol of our Motherland.