Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral). St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square: a brief history

First, in 1554, a wooden Church of the Intercession with seven chapels was built next to the walls, and in 1555 the stone Cathedral of the Intercession was laid Holy Mother of God- 9 churches on a single basement. Five of them were consecrated in the name of saints and Orthodox holidays, during which the most important events of the Kazan campaign took place.

Chronicles name the Russian architects Postnik and Barma as the builders of this architectural miracle. There is even a version that this is one person. But historians believe that the construction of the Intercession Cathedral could not have happened without the participation of Western European masters.

After 30 years, another small temple was added to the ensemble in honor of the Moscow holy fool - St. Basil the Blessed. He gave the popular name to the entire cathedral. But this did not happen immediately, but only at the end of the 17th century.

In the beginning new church It was not connected to the basement of the cathedral and was the only one of all that was heated. Therefore, services were held in it all year round, and in the other churches of the cathedral - only in the warm season (from Trinity to the Intercession). Over time, people began to say that they were going to serve in St. Basil’s Cathedral, while they were going to St. Basil’s Church. So gradually they began to call the entire structure a temple in the name of the famous saint.

Until the 17th century, the cathedral was also called Trinity Cathedral, since the first wooden church on this site was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The Intercession Cathedral was also known as the “Jerusalem Cathedral,” which is associated with the ritual of “procession on a donkey,” which symbolized the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on a donkey.

This ritual was first mentioned in the 16th century. It did not stop even in 1611, when it was occupied by Polish invaders. The ceremony followed a strict ritual. First, the patriarch addressed the king with a special invitational speech, and after Matins the king went out to the. He was accompanied by boyars, okolnichy and other courtiers. From there a religious procession began, in which up to 300 priests and up to 200 deacons took part. The Tsar and the Patriarch entered the chapel of the Entrance to Jerusalem of the Intercession Cathedral and prayed there.

A lectern with the Gospel and icons of John the Baptist and Nicholas the Wonderworker were placed on it, and the path from the Place of Execution was covered with red clothes or cloth. Not far from the Execution Ground stood a horse covered with a white blanket with long ears- the symbol of “donkey” - and an elegant willow. The willow was decorated with raisins, walnuts, dates, and apples.

At the end of the prayer, the patriarch climbed up and presented the king with a palm branch and willow branches. The archdeacon, facing west, read the Gospel, and with the words “and two ambassadors from the disciples,” the cathedral archpriest and the sacristan set off to fetch the donkeys. The Patriarch, holding the Gospel and the cross, sat on a donkey. The horse was led by the Tsar himself, in front of whom the attendants carried the Tsar's staff, the Tsar's willow, the Tsar's candle and the Tsar's towel.

When the procession entered the Spassky Gate, all the bells of the Kremlin churches rang. And the ringing continued until the procession entered the Assumption Cathedral. In the cathedral they finished reading the Gospel. The king went to one of the house churches, and the patriarch completed the liturgy. After this, the patriarch blessed the willow, the keys cut off branches for the altar, the royal family and the boyars. The remains of the willow and decorations were distributed to the people.

An unconditional symbol of Moscow, the Intercession Cathedral was still a completely uncharacteristic structure for Russian architecture.

The height of St. Basil's Cathedral is 61 meters (this is very high for the 16th century). The churches were built of brick, a material still unusual for that time, and were even painted to look like brick, which gives the cathedral such a “gingerbread” character. But, probably, at first the Intercession Cathedral was not the same as it is now, and its palette was limited only to white and brick colors. But still he was so beautiful that he impressed even foreigners.

But over time, the cathedral deteriorated, and wooden buildings appeared near its walls. And when Alexander I, during a visit to England, was shown an image of the cathedral without extensions, he said that he would like to have the same in Moscow. It was explained to the Tsar that St. Basil's Cathedral has been decorating Red Square for almost 300 years. After this, he ordered the demolition of the houses and shops surrounding the cathedral. And in 1817, walls lined with wild stone were built in their place. So the cathedral appeared to be on a high terrace.

What is what in the church

The cathedral has 11 domes, and none of them are repeated.

Nine domes over the churches of the second tier (according to the number of thrones), one over the lower Church of St. Basil and one over the bell tower:
1. Protection of the Virgin Mary (central),
2. Holy Trinity (eastern),
3. The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (western),
4. Gregory of Armenia (northwestern),
5. Alexander Svirsky (southeast),
6. Varlaam Khutynsky (southwestern),
7. Three Patriarchs of Constantinople (northeast),
8. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Velikoretsky (southern),
9. Cyprian and Justina (northern).
All 9 churches are united by a common base, a bypass gallery and internal vaulted passages.

It is known that previously the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners, and the deep niches in it were used as storage. They were closed with doors, of which only the hinges remained. Until 1595, the royal treasury was hidden in the basement of the Intercession Cathedral. Wealthy townspeople also brought their property here. We got into the basement via an internal white stone staircase from the central Church of the Intercession of the Virgin. And only the initiated knew about it. This narrow passage was later blocked, but during restoration in the 1930s it was opened.

Now St. Basil's Cathedral inside is a system of labyrinths, the walls of which are covered with frescoes. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms create the impression of a “city of churches.”

In 1918, the Intercession Cathedral became one of the first cultural monuments taken under state protection. But in the post-revolutionary years it was in dire straits: the roof was leaking, windows were broken, and in winter there was snow inside the churches. And on May 21, 1923, a museum opened in the cathedral.

Collection of funds began, and after 5 years the Intercession Cathedral became a branch. In 1929, St. Basil's Cathedral was finally closed for worship, and the bells were removed for melting down. But the museum was closed only once - during the Great Patriotic War. And this is despite the constant restorations that have been going on in the temples for almost 100 years.

In 1991, the Intercession Cathedral was given to the joint use of the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services resumed in the temple after a long break. Now they are held every Sunday in St. Basil's Church, and on October 14, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, in the central church.

IN main church In the cathedral there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin Church of the Chernigov Wonderworkers, dismantled in 1770, and in the chapel of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, dismantled at the same time.

St. Basil's Cathedral is known all over the world, and its photograph is even included in the list of system desktop wallpapers of the Windows 7 operating system.

And mystics call the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos “an icon imprinted in stone.” Its shape - 8 churches united by two squares at the base around a central ninth - is not accidental. The number 8 symbolizes the date of the Resurrection of Christ. The circle is a symbol of infinity and harmony of divine creation. The squares symbolize the 4 cardinal directions, the 4 main gates of Jerusalem and the 4 evangelists. In addition, you can see how the squares at the base of the cathedral, turned at an angle of 45 degrees, form an eight-pointed star, reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem on the birthday of Christ. And the system of labyrinths inside the cathedral itself becomes the embodiment of the streets of the Heavenly City, which begins and ends with the church-chapel.

Contrary to popular belief, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, although visually similar to the Intercession Cathedral, is not a copy of it. St. Petersburg Cathedral is one temple with several domes and a bell tower. And St. Basil's Cathedral is several independent churches on a single foundation. There are no such cathedrals anywhere else in the world.

They say that......during the construction of the Intercession Cathedral, Barma and Postnik did not use drawings, but relied on a diagram drawn directly at the construction site. But the architects used a life-size wooden model of the temple, so during the restoration they discovered wooden structures in the brickwork. This is a full-scale model of the cathedral.
...in Moscow in the 16th century there lived the holy fool Vasily. He had the gift of a clairvoyant, and even Ivan IV himself revered Vasily. The king allowed him unheard of insolence. For example, one day Ivan IV invited the holy fool to the palace, wanting to hear some kind of prediction, and ordered a glass of wine to be served to him. Several times Vasily threw a filled glass out the window, and when the Tsar angrily asked what he was doing, the holy fool replied that he was putting out a fire in Novgorod. And soon news of the fire actually arrived in Moscow. Perhaps that is why, after the death of St. Basil, Ivan IV himself volunteered to carry his body to the cemetery.
...one day some rich man gave St. Basil a fur coat. A gang of thieves noticed her and sent a rogue to him, who said to the holy fool in a mournful voice:
- My comrade died. And he and I were so poor that we had nothing to cover him. Give your fur coat to God's cause, holy man.
“Take it,” said Vasily, “and let everything be as you told me.”
When the swindler approached with a fur coat to the one who, pretending to be dead, was lying on the ground, he saw that he had actually given his soul to God.
...Ivan IV ordered the architects of St. Basil's Cathedral to be blinded so that they would never create anything like that again. But it is known that the allegedly blinded Postnik later participated in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin. Therefore, in fact, this is just a legend that complements the image of the formidable king and was sung by the Soviet poet D. Kedrin in the poem “Architects”.
...Napoleon, leaving Moscow, wanted to take this miracle with him, but could not. Then he ordered to blow up the Intercession Cathedral so that no one would get it. According to one legend, a sudden rainfall extinguished the wicks. According to another, an explosion occurred, but the temple remained unshaken.
...in the 1930s L.M. Kaganovich proposed demolishing the temple to make way for demonstrations and traffic. He even made a model and brought it to Stalin, where, with the words: “And if only he had - once again!...” he removed the temple with one jerk.
Stalin replied: “Lazarus, put him in his place!”
They also say that Pyotr Baranovsky knelt down at a meeting of the Central Committee, begging to preserve the religious building. And this saved the temple.
...there is another urban legend about the construction of the cathedral and Blessed Basil of Moscow, recorded in 1924 by folklorist Evgeniy Baranov.
“This church was built, it’s true, by Ivan the Terrible, but it wasn’t started by him. And then there lived in Moscow one such holy fool - St. Basil the Blessed. This cathedral began from him, and Ivan the Terrible came ready-made. Well, really, I didn’t spare my money.
And this holy fool walked around winter and summer in just a shirt and barefoot... And he collected money. And he collected it like this: he would come to the market, lift up the floor and stand there, but he himself would remain silent... Well, the people know: he will start putting it in the hem - some a nickel, some a penny, some as much as they can. And as soon as he reaches his full capacity, he now runs to Red Square, where St. Basil now stands. He will come running and start throwing money over his right shoulder. And they fall - nickel to nickel, kopeck to kopeck, three kopecks to three kopecks. They fell in order. And there were many such piles of money. And no one touched them, and the thieves didn’t touch them. Everyone looked, but was afraid to take it.
And that’s why they were afraid to take this money: since such a little man was found, give it, he says, I’ll take a little money. Came at night, filled his pockets. And here there was both silver and gold money. Well, he put it in his pocket, he wants to walk, but his legs won’t move. This way, this and that, they don’t go, even if you do what you want. It was as if someone had nailed them to the ground. The thief got scared. He thinks: “I’ll throw away the money.” And the money doesn't come out of your pocket. He suffered and suffered, his business was not going well. Yes, I stood there all night. And then it’s morning. Well, people see: a man is worth Vasily’s money.
- Why are you here?
- But, he says, God punished me for theft. - And he told what trouble befell him.
But Vasily the holy fool is not here, he already ran early to the market. Well, the people look at that thief and are surprised... They waited and waited for Vasily. Well, he came running, let’s throw money over his shoulder. And here is the king. But Vasily did not understand this: the king and the king, but only he does his job. So he left all the money, looked at this thief, shook his finger at him. And then the thief was released. He quickly threw the money out of his pockets and wanted to leave. Only the king says:
- Put this scoundrel on a stake so that he doesn’t steal holy money!
Well, he was jailed quickly. He screamed and screamed and died...
And no one knew what Vasily collected money for. And he collected them for a long time. And he himself has become old. Now people see: Vasily is digging a hole in the very place where he threw the money. And no one knows why he needs this hole. People gathered, looked, and he kept digging. So he dug a hole, lay down next to it and folded his arms on his chest.
- What is this? - the people think.
Yes, here one person explained:
- But, he says, Vasily is going to die.
Now they ran and said to the king:
- St. Basil the Blessed is dying.
The king quickly got ready and came. Vasily points out the money to the Tsar and points to his pocket. They say, take this money. And he died here. So the king ordered all this money to be put in bags, put on a cart and taken to the palace.
And he buried Vasily in that place. And after that he ordered the construction of St. Basil's Church in the same place. Well, I didn’t regret my money.

№ 7710342000 State good Website Official website Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral) on Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 55°45′08.88″ n. w. 37°37′23″ E. d. /  55.752467° s. w. 37.623056° E. d.(G) (O) (I)55.752467 , 37.623056

Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral- an Orthodox church located on the Red Square of Kitai-Gorod in Moscow. A widely known monument of Russian architecture. Until the 17th century, it was usually called Trinity, since the original wooden church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity; was also known as “Jerusalem”, which is associated both with the dedication of one of the chapels and with the procession of the cross to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the “procession on the donkey” of the Patriarch.

Status

St. Basil's Cathedral

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

The Intercession Cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. For many, it is a symbol of Moscow and the Russian Federation. Since 1931, in front of the cathedral there has been a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (installed on Red Square in 1818).

Story

Versions about creation

The Pokrovsky Cathedral was built in 1920 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan and the victory over the Kazan Khanate. There are several versions about the creators of the cathedral. According to one version, the architect was the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. According to another, widely known version, Barma and Postnik are two different architects, both participating in the construction; this version is now outdated. According to the third version, the cathedral was built by an unknown Western European master (presumably an Italian, as before - a significant part of the buildings of the Moscow Kremlin), hence such a unique style, combining the traditions of both Russian architecture and European architecture of the Renaissance, but this version is still I never found any clear documentary evidence.

According to legend, the architect(s) of the cathedral were blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could not build another similar temple. However, if the author of the cathedral is Postnik, then he could not have been blinded, since for several years after the construction of the cathedral he participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin.

The cathedral at the end of the 16th - 19th centuries.

• in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka),
• in honor of the torment. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of St. Cyprian and Justina - October 2),
• St. John the Merciful (until XVIII - in honor of St. Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - November 6),
• Alexander Svirsky (April 17 and August 30),
• Varlaam Khutynsky (November 6 and 1st Friday of Peter's Lent),
• Gregory of Armenia (September 30).

All these eight churches (four axial, four smaller ones between them) are crowned with onion domes and grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped church towering above them in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God, completed with a tent with a small dome. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages.

First floor

Podklet

“Our Lady of the Sign” in the basement

There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral. Churches and galleries stand on a single foundation - a basement, consisting of several rooms. The strong brick walls of the basement (up to 3 m thick) are covered with vaults. The height of the premises is about 6.5 m.

The design of the northern basement is unique for the 16th century. Its long box vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - by the spirits. Together with "breathing" building material- brick - they provide a special indoor microclimate at any time of the year.

Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. The deep niches in it were used as storage. They were closed with doors, the hinges of which have now been preserved.

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

One entered the basement from the upper central Church of the Intercession of Our Lady via an internal white stone staircase. Only the initiated knew about it. Later this narrow passage was blocked. However, during the restoration process of the 1930s. a secret staircase was discovered.

In the basement there are icons of the Intercession Cathedral. The oldest of them is the icon of St. St. Basil's at the end of the 16th century, written specifically for the Intercession Cathedral.

The icon “Our Lady of the Sign” is a replica of the façade icon located on the eastern wall of the cathedral. Written in the 1780s. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. The icon was located above the entrance to the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed.

Church of St. Basil the Blessed

Canopy over the tomb of St. Basil the Blessed

The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial place of St. St. Basil's. A stylized inscription on the wall tells about the construction of this church after the canonization of the saint by order of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

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

The oil painting of the church was done for the 350th anniversary of the start of construction of the cathedral (1905). The dome depicts the Savior Almighty, the forefathers are depicted in the drum, the Deesis (Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist) is depicted in the crosshairs of the vault, and the Evangelists are depicted in the sails of the vault.

On the western wall is the temple image of the “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Fyodor Stratilates, John the Baptist, Saint Anastasia, and the Martyr Irene.

On the northern and southern walls there are scenes from the life of St. Basil: “The Miracle of Salvation at Sea” and “The Miracle of the Fur Coat.” The lower tier of the walls is decorated with a traditional ancient Russian ornament in the form of towels.

The iconostasis was completed in 1895 according to the design of the architect A.M. Pavlinova. The icons were painted under the guidance of the famous Moscow icon painter and restorer Osip Chirikov, whose signature is preserved on the icon “The Savior on the Throne”.

The iconostasis includes earlier icons: “Our Lady of Smolensk” from the 16th century. and the local image of “St. Saint Basil against the backdrop of the Kremlin and Red Square" XVIII century.

Above the burial place of St. St. Basil's Church has an arch decorated with a carved canopy. This is one of the revered Moscow shrines.

On the southern wall of the church there is a rare large-sized icon painted on metal - “Our Lady of Vladimir with selected saints of the Moscow circle “Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly” (1904)

The floor is covered with Kasli cast iron slabs.

St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decorative decoration was restored. On August 15, 1997, on the day of remembrance of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and holiday 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. Initially it was open. In the middle of the 19th century. the glazed gallery became part of the cathedral's interior. Arched entrance openings lead from the external gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it with internal passages.

The central Church of the Intercession of Our Lady is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the upper parts of the churches. In the second half of the 17th century. the gallery was painted with floral patterns. Later, narrative oil paintings appeared in the cathedral, which were updated several times. Tempera painting is currently unveiled in the gallery. Oil paintings from the 19th century have been preserved on the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints in combination with floral patterns.

Carved brick entrances leading to the central church organically complement the decor. The portal has been preserved in its original form, without late coatings, which allows you to see its decoration. The relief details are laid out from specially molded pattern bricks, and the shallow decoration is carved on site.

Previously, daylight penetrated into the gallery from windows located above the passages in the walkway. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns from the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-domed tops of the outrigger lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of a cathedral.

The floor of the gallery is made of brick in a herringbone pattern. Bricks from the 16th century have been preserved here. - darker and more resistant to abrasion than modern restoration bricks.

Gallery painting

The vault of the western section of the gallery is covered with a flat brick ceiling. It demonstrates a unique for the 16th century. engineering technique for constructing a floor: many small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of figured bricks.

In this area, the floor is laid out with a special “rosette” pattern, and the original paintings, imitating brickwork, have been recreated on the walls. The size of the drawn bricks corresponds to the real ones.

Two galleries unite the chapels of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms create the impression of a “city of churches.” After passing through the labyrinth of the internal gallery, you can get to the porch areas of the cathedral. Their vaults are “carpets of flowers,” the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the attention of visitors.

On the upper platform of the right porch in front of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the bases of pillars or columns have been preserved - the remains of the decoration of the entrance. This is due to the special role of the church in the complex ideological program of the cathedral’s dedications.

Church of Alexander Svirsky

Dome of the Church of Alexander Svirsky

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

In 1552, on the day of memory of Alexander Svirsky, one of the important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich Yapancha on the Arsk field.

This is one of four small churches 15 m high. Its base - a quadrangle - turns into a low octagon and ends with a cylindrical light drum and a vault.

The original appearance of the church interior was restored during restoration work in the 1920s and 1979-1980s: a brick floor with a herringbone pattern, profiled cornices, stepped window sills. The walls of the church are covered with paintings imitating brickwork. The dome depicts a “brick” spiral - a symbol of eternity.

The iconostasis of the church has been reconstructed. Between the wooden beams (tyablas) icons of the 16th - early 18th centuries are located close to each other. The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with hanging shrouds, skillfully embroidered by craftswomen. On the velvet shrouds there is a traditional image of the Calvary cross.

Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

Royal doors of the iconostasis of the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of St. Varlaam of Khutyn.

This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 15.2 m. Its base has the shape of a quadrangle, elongated from north to south with the apse shifted to the south. The violation of symmetry in the construction of the temple is caused by the need to create a passage between small church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God.

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

The Tyablo iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons from the 16th – 18th centuries. A feature of the church's architecture - the irregular shape of the apse - determined the shift of the Royal Doors to the right.

Of particular interest is the separately hanging icon “Vision of Sexton Tarasius”. It was written in Novgorod at the end of the 16th century. The plot of the icon is based on the legend about the vision of the sexton of the Khutyn monastery of disasters threatening Novgorod: floods, fires, “pestilence”.

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

Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

Royal Doors of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

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

One of the four large churches is an octagonal two-tier pillar covered with a vault. The temple is different large sizes and the solemn nature of the decorative decoration.

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

The current iconostasis was moved in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which add lightness to the four-tier structure. In the middle of the 19th century. The iconostasis was supplemented with wooden carved details. The icons in the bottom row tell the story of the Creation of the world.

The church displays one of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral - the icon “St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life of the 17th century. The icon, unique in its iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

In the middle of the icon the noble prince is represented, and around him there are 33 stamps with scenes from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: Battle of Neva, the prince’s trip to the Khan’s headquarters, Battle of Kulikovo).

Church of Gregory of Armenia

The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of St. Gregory, the enlightener of Great Armenia (died in 335). He converted the king and the entire country to Christianity, and was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is celebrated on September 30 (October 13 n.st.). In 1552, on this day, an important event in the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arsk Tower in Kazan.

One of the four small churches of the cathedral (15m high) is a quadrangle, turning into a low octagon. Its base is elongated from north to south with a displacement of the apse. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to create a passage between this church and the central one - the Intercession of Our Lady. The light drum is covered with a vault.

The architectural decoration of the 16th century has been restored in the church: ancient windows, half-columns, cornices, brick floor laid out in a herringbone pattern. As in the 17th century, the walls are whitewashed, which emphasizes the severity and beauty of the architectural details.

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

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

The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with silk and velvet shrouds depicting Calvary crosses. The interior of the church is complemented by the so-called “skinny” candles - large wooden painted candlesticks of an antique shape. In their upper part there is a metal base in which thin candles were placed.

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

Church of Cyprian and Justina

Dome of the Church of Cyprian and Justina

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

This is one of the four large churches of the Intercession Cathedral. Its height is 20.9 m. The high octagonal pillar is completed with a light drum and a dome, which depicts Our Lady of the Burning Bush. In the 1780s. Oil painting appeared in the church. On the walls are scenes of the lives of saints: in the lower tier - Adrian and Natalia, in the upper - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of Gospel parables and scenes from the Old Testament.

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

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities in the cathedral, the church was returned to its original name. Recently it appeared to visitors updated: in 2007, the wall paintings and iconostasis were restored with charitable support Joint stock company"Russian Railways".

Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky

Iconostasis of the Church of St. Nicholas of Velikoretsky

The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and subsequently received the name “Nicholas of Velikoretsky”.

In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was brought in a religious procession along the rivers from Vyatka to Moscow. An event of great spiritual significance determined the dedication of one of the chapels of the Intercession Cathedral under construction.

One of the large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octagonal pillar with a light drum and a vault. Its height is 28 m.

The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during the fire of 1737. In the second half of the 18th century - early XIX V. a single complex of decorative and fine arts emerged: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and monumental plot painting of the walls and vault. The lower tier of the octagon presents the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about the bringing of the image to Moscow and illustrations to them.

In the upper tier the Mother of God is depicted on a throne surrounded by prophets, above are the apostles, in the vault is the image of the Savior Almighty.

The iconostasis is richly decorated with stucco floral decoration and gilding. The icons in narrow profiled frames are painted in oil. In the local row there is an image of “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Life” of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with gesso engraving imitating brocade fabric.

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

At the end of the 18th century. The floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During restoration work, a fragment of the original covering made of oak checkers was discovered. This is the only place in the cathedral with a preserved wooden floor.

In 2005-2006 The iconostasis and monumental paintings of the church were restored with the assistance of the Moscow International Currency Exchange.

Holy Trinity Church

The eastern one is consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, after which the entire temple was often named.

One of the four large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octagonal pillar, ending with a light drum and a dome. Its height is 21 m. During the restoration of the 1920s. In this church, the ancient architectural and decorative decoration was most fully restored: half-columns and pilasters framing the entrance arches of the lower part of the octagon, the decorative belt of the arches. In the vault of the dome, a spiral is laid out with small bricks - a symbol of eternity. Stepped window sills in combination with the whitewashed surface of the walls and vault make the Trinity Church especially bright and elegant. Under the light drum, “voices” are built into the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church is illuminated by the oldest chandelier in the cathedral, made in Russia at the end of the 16th century.

Based on restoration studies, the shape of the original, so-called “tyabla” iconostasis (“tyabla” - wooden beams with grooves, between which the icons were fastened close to each other) was established. The peculiarity of the iconostasis is the unusual shape of the low royal doors and three-row icons, forming three canonical orders: prophetic, Deesis and festive.

“Old Testament Trinity” in the local row of the iconostasis is one of the most ancient and revered icons of the cathedral of the second half of the 16th century.

Church of the Three Patriarchs

The northeastern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the three Patriarchs of Constantinople: Alexander, John and Paul the New.

In 1552, on the day of remembrance of the Patriarchs, an important event of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat by the troops of Tsar Ivan the Terrible of the cavalry of the Tatar prince Yapanchi, who was coming from the Crimea to help the Kazan Khanate.

This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 14.9 m. The walls of the quadrangle turn into a low octagon with a cylindrical light drum. The church is interesting for its original ceiling system with a wide dome, in which the composition “The Savior Not Made by Hands” is located.

The wall oil painting was made in the mid-19th century. and reflects in its plots the then change in the name of the church. In connection with the transfer of the throne of the cathedral church of Gregory of Armenia, it was reconsecrated in memory of the enlightener of Great Armenia.

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

The five-tier iconostasis combines baroque elements with classical ones. This is the only altar barrier in the cathedral from the mid-19th century. It was made specifically for this church.

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activity, the church was returned to its original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian philanthropists, the management of the Moscow International Currency Exchange contributed to the restoration of the interior of the church in 2007. For the first time in many years, visitors were able to see one of the most interesting churches of the cathedral.

Central Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary

Iconostasis

Interior view of the central dome drum

Belfry

Belfry

The modern bell tower of the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of an ancient belfry.

By the second half of the 17th century. the old belfry had become dilapidated and unusable. In the 1680s. it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands today.

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

The ribs of the tent are decorated with multi-colored tiles with white, yellow, blue and brown glaze. The edges are covered with figured green tiles. The tent is completed by a small onion dome with 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, bells cast by outstanding Russian craftsmen of the 17th-19th centuries are suspended on thick wooden beams. In 1990, after a long period of silence, they began to be used again.

See also

• The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is a memorial temple in memory of Alexander II in St. Petersburg, for which St. Basil's Cathedral served as one of the models

Notes

Literature

• Gilyarovskaya N. St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow: A monument of Russian architecture of the 16th-17th centuries. - M.-L.: Art, 1943. - 12, p. - (Mass Library).(region)
• Volkov A. M. Architects: Novel / Afterword: Doctor of Historical Sciences A. A. Zimin; Drawings by I. Godin. - Reprint. - M.: Children's literature, 1986. - 384 p. - (Library series). - 100,000 copies. (1st edition - )

Links

Religious buildings and structures Orthodox monasteries: Andronikov Monastery | Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery | Donskoy Monastery |

In 1552, on the great Slavic holiday of the Intercession of the Mother of God in a distant foreign land, Russian armies took Kazan by storm, Ivan the Terrible, in honor of this significant event for Rus', ordered the foundation of the majestic Orthodox church. Church of the Intercession Mother of God . Now we know it under the name St. Basil's Cathedral.

It was erected in 6 years - from 1555 to 1561, which by the standards of that time was simply very fast.
In June 1557, Metropolitan Macarius consecrated the then-unfinished church in the name of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary in the presence of Ivan the Terrible.

Construction continued after the death of the Tsar, ending during the reign of Ivan the Terrible’s son, Fyodor Ivanovich. Having risen its domes to a height of 60 meters, the Intercession Cathedral became the most tall structure in Moscow, it remained like this until the end of the 16th century, then under Boris Godunov the bell tower of the Church of St. John the Ladder, 81 meters high, was built.

The silhouette of a bizarrely shaped temple reigned over Kitay-Gorod, which spread its territory widely. The new cathedral delighted Muscovites and aroused surprise among foreigners visiting Moscow.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 25.12.2015 12:10

The words of one chronicler about St. Basil's Cathedral: “And all the ambassadors and merchants marveled, saying that we had not seen in any kingdoms, neither in our own nor in others, such beauty, and strength and great glory.”

Disputes among researchers about who was the architect of such a miracle are still ongoing. According to the official version, the temple was built by two architects, Plotnik Yakovlev and Barma. But some historians believe that it was one person - Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, nicknamed by the people - the Carpenter. Others put forward the assumption, although unconfirmed, that the architect was from Italy; this hypothesis is supported by an original and unusual style for Russian architecture - a mixture of Russian architecture and the European Renaissance.

After the completion of construction, a legend arose according to which the king ordered the great masters to be blinded so that no one could build a more beautiful temple anywhere. But the legend was refuted by historians; they found evidence that the architect Plotnik was involved in the construction of other temples in Rus', in particular the Kazan Kremlin.

The Church of the Intercession was very badly damaged by a fire in 1737, but was restored, after which the altars of fifteen churches from Red Square were moved under its domes.

During the time of Catherine II, in the second half of the 18th century, the cathedral was completely reconstructed, preserving the octal symbolism, the small domes around the towers were removed, and the hipped bell tower was combined with the cathedral. At the same time, the cathedral was decorated in a modern color palette, the cathedral became even more beautiful and elegant, turning into a real architectural miracle.

Several times during its centuries-old history it was on the verge of complete destruction, but by Providence God's temple perfectly survived all historical cataclysms and has been preserved to this day in almost its original form.

“The stone temple was quickly erected, and I was surprised various samples and many translations, on one foundation are nine thrones"

The first time the cathedral was under threat of destruction was when Napoleon, having entered and beheld such a miracle, wanted to move the cathedral to Paris, but he was unable to bring such a project to life. Before retreating, he ordered the temple and the Moscow Kremlin to be blown up; residents tried to prevent the vandalism, but to no avail, and then divine intervention occurred - suddenly heavy rain poured in and extinguished the burning wicks.

Also, after the 1917 revolution, the temple was threatened with demolition. In September 1918, the Bolsheviks shot Archpriest John Vostorgov, rector of St. Basil's Cathedral, all the property of the temple was confiscated, its belfries and bells were melted down, the temple itself was closed.

Lazar Kaganovich in 1936 proposed demolishing the Intercession Cathedral in order to clear Red Square for mass holiday demonstrations and parades. Only the heroic personal courage and self-sacrifice of the architect P.D. Baranovsky saved the temple from destruction. He flatly refused to prepare the cathedral for demolition and threatened to commit suicide, and then sent a very harsh telegram to the top.

There is a legend that Baranovsky, on his knees in the Kremlin, begged Stalin not to demolish St. Basil's Cathedral; he saved the Intercession Cathedral, but he himself paid for it with imprisonment.

The Intercession Cathedral became a museum and began to host tourist excursions. In the 70s, during restoration, a spiral wooden staircase was discovered in the wall, and museum visitors now take it to the central temple, where they can see a magnificent tent soaring into the sky, a valuable iconostasis, and walk through the narrow labyrinth of the internal gallery, entirely painted with marvelous patterns.

First all-night vigil and the liturgy in the temple took place in November 1990, its bells rang again at the consecration of the Kazan Cathedral. On the patronal feast of the Intercession on October 13-14, the holiest holiday for the church, a divine service is performed here.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 26.12.2015 10:20

St. Basil's Cathedral -

Monument to Russian victories!

You are still standing on Red Square,

The most beautiful of Russian churches!

July 12, 2016 marked the 455th anniversary of one of the most famous architectural monuments Moscow - the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Moat, which we know as St. Basil's Cathedral and which today is considered one of the symbols of Russia and is a monument of world significance, being one of the sites protected by UNESCO.

There is no doubt that St. Basil's Cathedral is a symbol of Moscow. We often see it on TV and in movies, in travel magazines and decorative souvenirs brought from the Russian capital. In addition, St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most beautiful places Russia! And the long history of the Moscow shrine, associated with interesting facts and legends, annually attracts most beautiful temple Russia has 500,000 tourists.

This cathedral is rightfully considered one of the main symbols not only of Moscow, but of all of Russia. And it’s not just that it was built in the very center of the capital and in memory of a very important event. St. Basil's Cathedral is also simply incredibly beautiful.

Officially, the cathedral has a completely different name - the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the Moat. St. Basil's Cathedral is, rather, the “folk” name assigned to it.

In the place where the cathedral now stands, in the 16th century there stood the stone Trinity Church, “which is on the Moat.” There really was a defensive ditch here, stretching along the entire Kremlin wall from Red Square. This ditch was filled in only in 1813. Now in its place is a Soviet necropolis and Mausoleum.

From the history of the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral:

St. Basil's Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God on the Moat, as its canonical full name sounds, was built on Red Square in 1555-1561.

The construction of the new cathedral was preceded by a long construction history. These were the years of the great Kazan campaign, which was given enormous importance: until now, all campaigns of Russian troops against Kazan had ended in failure. Ivan the Terrible, who personally led the army in 1552, vowed, if the campaign was successfully completed, to build a grandiose temple in Moscow on Red Square in memory of this. While the war was going on, in honor of each major victory, a small wooden church was erected next to the Trinity Church in honor of the saint on whose day the victory was won. When the Russian army returned to Moscow in triumph, Ivan the Terrible decided to build one large stone church on the site of the eight wooden churches built for centuries and call it Intercession, since on the Feast of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin the final victory in the long war was won. So in 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, a stone Cathedral was laid near the walls of the Moscow Kremlin - the Temple of the Intercession of the Mother of God.

Where did the name “St. Basil's Cathedral” come from?

Despite the fact that the cathedral was built in honor of the victories of Ivan the Terrible over the Golden Horde, it was popularly named St. Basil's, after the name of the chapel attached to the cathedral on the north-eastern side in 1588. It was built by order of the son of Ivan the Terrible - Fyodor Ioannovich over the grave of Blessed Vasily, who died in 1557, and was buried near the walls of the cathedral under construction. The holy fool walked naked in winter and summer, wearing iron chains; Muscovites loved him very much for his gentle disposition. In 1586, under Fyodor Ioannovich, the canonization of St. Basil took place. With the addition of St. Basil's Church, services in the cathedral became daily. Previously, the cathedral was not heated, since it was largely a memorial, and services were held in it only in the warm season. And the chapel of St. Basil's was warm and more spacious. Since then, the Intercession Cathedral has been known more as St. Basil's Cathedral. Even during construction, the temple began to be called after the holy fool St. Basil, revered by Muscovites, who was buried near the walls old church. His relics, which granted healing from many diseases, were transferred to the Intercession Cathedral upon completion of its construction. Another name of the Temple is Jerusalem, it was given in honor of one of the chapels of the Intercession Church. The Intercession Cathedral was built quickly by the standards of the 14th century - in just five years.

The construction was entrusted to the carpenters Barma and Postnik, although many researchers are inclined to believe that “Postnik” is most likely the nickname of the carpenter Ivan Barma.

Documents from the 16th century clearly state that this master, after working on the cathedral in Moscow, participated in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin.

The cathedral is built of brick. In the 16th century, this material was quite new: before traditional material for churches there were white cut stone and thin brick - plinth. Central part crowned with a tall, magnificent tent with “fiery” decoration almost to the middle of its height. The tent is surrounded on all sides by domed chapels, none of which are like the other. Not only does the pattern of the large onion-domes vary; If you look closely, you will easily notice that the finish of each drum is unique. Initially, apparently, the domes were helmet-shaped, but by the end of the 16th century they were definitely made bulbous. Their current colors were established only in the middle of the 19th century.

During its existence, the temple underwent many changes: chapels were completed, the domes were changed, the large gallery was covered with a vault and painted with ornaments, porches were built over the stairs, and the facades were updated with tiles.

The domes were also replaced: initially they were helmet-shaped, elongated upward, but at the end of the 16th century they were replaced with onion-shaped domes with a unique decoration. The color of the domes was established only in the 19th century; before that, they, like the walls, external and internal, were often repainted, changing the design. St. Basil's Cathedral was restored several times.

During the War of 1812, St. Basil's Cathedral was at risk of demolition for the first time. Leaving Moscow, the French mined it, but they could not blow it up, they only plundered it. Immediately after the end of the war, one of the most beloved churches of Muscovites was restored.

In 1680, the cathedral was significantly restored. Shortly before this, in 1672, a small chapel was added to it over the grave of another revered Moscow blessed - John, buried here in 1589. The restoration of 1680 was reflected in the fact that the wooden galleries were replaced with brick ones, a tented bell tower was installed instead of a belfry, and a new covering was made. At the same time, the thrones of thirteen or fourteen churches that stood on Red Square along the moat, where public executions were carried out (all of these churches had the prefix “on blood”) were moved to the basement of the temple. In 1683, a tiled frieze was laid around the entire perimeter of the temple, on the tiles of which the entire history of the building was outlined.

The cathedral was rebuilt, although not so significantly, in the second half of the 18th century, in 1761-1784: the arches of the basement were laid, the ceramic frieze was removed, and all the walls of the temple, outside and inside, were painted with “grass” ornaments.

The restoration and renovation of the building was necessary after the terrible Moscow fire of 1737, the capture of the capital by French troops and their plunder of the temple, at the same time the cathedral was mined and almost destroyed, and at the beginning of the 20th century it required good repairs and strengthening.

In 1817, O.I. Bove, who was engaged in the restoration of post-fire Moscow, strengthened and decorated the retaining wall of the temple from the Moscow River with a cast-iron fence.

During the 19th century, the cathedral was restored several times, and at the end of the century, the first attempt at its scientific research was even made.

Here full list all eleven altars that existed in the cathedral before 1917:

Plan of St. Basil's Cathedral:

*Central – Pokrovsky

*East - Trinity

*Southeastern - Alexander Svirsky

*Southern - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker)

*Southwestern - Varlaam Khutynsky

*Western - Entrance to Jerusalem

*Northwestern - St. Gregory of Armenia

*North – St. Adrian and Natalia

*Northeast - St. John the Merciful

*Above the grave of St. John the Blessed is the chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (1672),

* Adjacent to St. Basil's chapel.

The main thing in the appearance of the temple is that it lacks a clearly defined façade. Whichever side you approach the cathedral from, it seems that this is the main side. The height of St. Basil's Cathedral is 65 meters. For a long time, until the end of the 16th century, it was the tallest building in Moscow. Initially, the cathedral was painted “like brick”; Later it was repainted; researchers discovered the remains of drawings depicting false windows and kokoshniks, as well as memorial inscriptions made with paint.

In 1918, the Cathedral officially became a historical monument, although this did not save it from its disastrous, abandoned situation and the confiscation of valuables by the new government. + Despite the fact that the temple was a branch of the State Historical Museum, and religious services were now prohibited, there were attempts to demolish the building, but, by a lucky chance, they did not come to fruition.

In 1919, the rector of the cathedral, Father John Vostorgov, was shot “for anti-Semitic propaganda.” In 1922, valuables were removed from the cathedral, and in 1929 the cathedral was closed and transferred to the Historical Museum. On this, it would seem, one could calm down. But the most scary time there was more to come.

In 1936, Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky was called and offered to take measurements of the Church of the Intercession on the Moat, so that it could be calmly demolished. The temple, according to the authorities, interfered with the movement of cars on Red Square... Baranovsky acted in a way that probably no one expected of him. Directly telling the officials that the demolition of the cathedral was madness and a crime, he promised to immediately commit suicide if this happened. Needless to say, after this Baranovsky was immediately arrested. When it was liberated six months later, the cathedral continued to stand in its place.

One way or another, St. Basil's Cathedral, having survived everyone who tried to destroy it, remained standing on Red Square. In 1923-1949, large-scale research was carried out in it, which made it possible to restore the original appearance of the gallery. In 1954-1955, the cathedral was again painted “brick-like” as in the 16th century. The cathedral houses a branch of the Historical Museum, and the flow of tourists there never ends. Since 1990, services have sometimes been held there, but the rest of the time it is still a museum. But the main thing is probably not even this. The main thing is that one of the most beautiful Moscow and Russian churches in general still stands on the square, and no one else has any ideas of removing it from here. I would like to hope that this is forever. +Today the cathedral is in joint use of the State Historical Museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services are held in St. Basil's Cathedral weekly on Sundays, as well as on patronal holidays - August 15, the day of remembrance of St. Basil, and October 14, the day of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Basil's Cathedral consists of nine churches on one foundation. Having entered the temple, it is even difficult to understand its layout without making a circle or two around the entire building. The central altar of the temple is dedicated to the Feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God, because it was on this day that the wall of the Kazan fortress was destroyed by an explosion and the city was taken.

Based on the results of the study, it was proven that hiding places used to be made in this famous cathedral, with its powerful walls and vaults. Deep niches were built in the walls of the basement, the entrance to which was closed metal doors. There were heavy forged chests in which rich townspeople kept their valuable property - money, jewelry, utensils and books. The royal treasury was also kept there.

What other legends and secrets does this temple, which we call St. Basil's Cathedral, keep today?

Myths and truth about St. Basil's Cathedral:

1) Ivan the Terrible gouged out the eyes of the temple builders. The most common myth about the cathedral is the chilling story of gullible souls that Tsar Ivan IV allegedly ordered its builders Postnik and Barma to be blinded so that they would never be able to build anything else that could surpass outshine the newly erected architectural masterpiece. Meanwhile, there is no real historical evidence. Yes, the builders of the temple were really called Postnik and Barma. In 1896, Archpriest John Kuznetsov, who served in the temple, discovered a chronicle in which it was said that “The pious Tsar John came from the victory of Kazan to the reigning city of Moscow... And God gave him two Russian masters named Postnik and Barma and was wise and convenient for such a wonderful work ..." This is how the names of the cathedral’s builders became known for the first time. But there is not a word about blindness in the chronicles. Moreover, Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, after completing work on the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral, took part in the construction of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, the Kazan Kremlin and other iconic buildings, which are mentioned in the chronicles.

2) The cathedral was originally intended to be so colorful. No, this is a mistaken opinion. The current appearance of the Intercession Cathedral is very different from its original appearance. It had white walls, strictly painted to resemble brick. All the polychrome and floral painting of the cathedral appeared only in the 1670s. By this time, the cathedral had already undergone significant reconstruction: two large porch- from the north and south sides. The external gallery was also covered with vaults. Today in the decoration of the Intercession Cathedral you can see frescoes of the 16th century, tempera painting of the 17th century, monumental oil painting of the 18th-19th centuries, and rare monuments of Russian icon painting.

3) Napoleon wanted to move the temple to Paris During the War of 1812, when Napoleon occupied Moscow, the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary pleased the emperor so much that he decided to move it to Paris. The technology of that time did not allow this to happen. Then the French first built stables in the temple, and later simply planted explosives in the base of the cathedral and lit the fuse. The assembled Muscovites prayed for the salvation of the temple, and a miracle happened - heavy rain began, which extinguished the wick.

4) Stalin saved the Cathedral from destruction. The Cathedral miraculously survived the October Revolution - traces of shells remained on its walls for a long time. In 1931, a bronze monument to Minin and Pozharsky was moved to the cathedral - the authorities cleared the area of ​​unnecessary buildings for parades. Lazar Kaganovich, who was so successful in destroying the Kazan Cathedral of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and a number of other churches in Moscow, proposed completely demolishing the Intercession Cathedral in order to further clear the place for demonstrations and military parades. Legend has it that Kaganovich ordered the production of a detailed model of Red Square with a removable temple and brought it to Stalin. Trying to prove to the leader that the cathedral interfered with cars and demonstrations, he unexpectedly tore off the model of the temple from the square. The surprised Stalin allegedly at that moment uttered the historical phrase: “Lazarus, put him in his place!”, so the question of demolishing the cathedral was postponed. According to the second legend, the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary owes its salvation to the famous restorer P.D. Baranovsky, who sent telegrams to Stalin calling not to destroy the temple. Legend has it that Baranovsky, who was invited to the Kremlin on this issue, knelt before the assembled members of the Central Committee, begging to preserve the iconic building, and this had an unexpected effect.

5) Does the cathedral now serve only as a museum? The historical and architectural museum in the cathedral was founded in 1923. However, even then, during Soviet times, services in the cathedral still continued. They continued until 1929, and resumed again in 1991.

25 interesting facts about St. Basil's Cathedral:

1. It is believed that St. Basil's Cathedral is under the special guardianship of the Most Holy Theotokos. The special providence of God is evidenced by the fact that the cathedral has survived to this day, despite all the disasters - fires, wars, the desire of the rulers to blow up the shrine, etc.

2.Initially, the temple was crowned with 25 gilded domes, which symbolized the Lord and the elders at his throne. Today, there are 10 domes left, each of which is unique in its decoration and coloring.

3. A milestone in the history of the cathedral was 1990; it was in this year that the shrine was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

4.The cathedral, which recently turned 455 years old, should

was to disappear more than once. It survived fires, Napoleonic troops who used it as a barn, and even a demolition plan by Stalin's staff, who believed that St. Basil was taking up a lot of space needed for parades.

6. Ancient chronicles mention the fact that Napoleon, during the capture of Moscow in 1812, expressed a desire to move the Russian shrine to Paris. Since the emperor’s wishes were not feasible at that time due to the lack of technology, Napoleon decided to blow up the cathedral. Muscovites prayed for the salvation of the shrine, rain came and put out the wick.

7. In the 30s of the 20th century, during restoration work, a secret passage was discovered. In ancient times, the basement (base) of the cathedral was not publicly accessible; external staircases led people directly to the upper churches; many did not even realize the existence of a secret staircase leading into the bowels of the structure. Caches placed in niches ground floor, were used by rich townspeople as storage facilities for wealth; until the end of the 16th century, the royal treasury was stored here.

8. This temple may also remind us of the game Tetris, which was created in 1984 by the Russian computer engineer Alexey Pajitnov, and always started with images of symbols of the USSR, including St. Basil's Cathedral.

9. Nowadays, the Cathedral is in simultaneous use of the Russian Orthodox Church and the State Historical Museum.

10.St. Basil's Cathedral symbolizes the victory of the Russian army over the Kazan Khanate.

11. The cathedral is an inaccurate copy of the Kul-Sharif mosque. According to legend, Grozny, during the assault on the city, was enraged by the resistance shown by the residents, after the capture settlement he ordered the mosque to be demolished.

14. The cathedral is not only of architectural value; the treasures of the shrine include 400 icons of the 16th-19th centuries, paintings of the 19th century, and unique church utensils. The temple contains 9 iconostases, the walls of the cathedral are decorated with frescoes from the 17th century.

15. If you look at the temple from above, you can see that the churches, which are located along the perimeter around the central one, form a clear geometric figure– Star of Bethlehem, symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

16.The Moscow shrine was taken under state protection back in 1918.

17.In 1923, the Cathedral opened its doors as a museum.

18. There is one curious story: they say that the person responsible for the master plan for the reconstruction of Moscow, Lazar Kaganovich, went to Stalin with a model of Red Square in his hand, and proposed to demolish the cathedral. Stalin's answer was simple: “Lazarus, put him in his place!”

19. Intercession Cathedral is the winner of the “7 Wonders of Russia” competition. In 2007, the temple became a nominee in the All-Russian competition. The competition was held in three stages, with the results announced on July 12, 2008. St. Basil's Cathedral was also announced among the winners.

20. The ensemble of the Cathedral includes eight churches and the main ninth church with a tent, rising above them, symbolizes the Intercession.

21.Divine services have been held in St. Basil's Cathedral since 1991. Patriarchal and lordly services are held in the church on the days of the Intercession and St. Basil the Blessed.

22. During the construction of the shrine, the architects used special techniques to create a unique acoustic sound inside the structure. Clay pots were placed in the walls, the necks of which were directed towards the interior of the buildings.

23. The reliquary with the relics of St. Basil is preserved in the temple. There are more than one known cases of miraculous healing of parishioners after veneration of the holy relics of Basil.

24. There is an opinion that St. Basil the Blessed was the only person, whom Ivan the Terrible feared, and therefore the Tsar buried him in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

25. The cathedral consists of nine separate chapels, each of which is dedicated to one of the saints on whose holidays Ivan the Terrible won the battle.

Poems about St. Basil's Cathedral:

*From the bridge over the Moscow River

We can see Vasilyevsky Descent.

There is a temple there, towering like a mountain,

Stands without shaking off the snow load...

That load may be completely symbolic -

Decorated the domes in winter.

After all, the temple is distinguished by its beauty,

It’s in vain that mother winter threw snow...

Any eyewitness will tell you,

That time has no power over him.

St. Basil the Blessed - seer,

Keeps him with his light... (Svetlana Milovidova)

*The palace is magnificent and arrogant,

The creation of chiropteran masters,

Throwing over your gold-woven cover...

He stood majestically, proudly, magnificently;

He irresistibly beckoned into a fairy tale -

And, as if in a dream, I suddenly began to hear...

Like a bell rang in my heart.

How many times has he called in three hundred years?

The painting seemed like a miracle of the brush,

An autograph that has come down through the centuries.

And the beauty of unearthly reflection

I marveled and was in awe,

And I don’t know who was more blessed

At that moment, the connector is the cathedral or am I?..

And, looking at the wonderful frescoes,

I forgot, believing in miracles,

What is the revenge of brilliant masters?

The king, according to legend, gouged out his eyes...

The cathedral stood, silent and blessed,

And I wanted, looking at the heavens,

Build a temple in your soul that is imperishable,

Until death pecks out your eyes... (Karpenko Alexander)

* Captivating people with beauty,

Remaining faithful to God,

The Holy Spirit performs the ritual, the Miracle Temple stands in Moscow.

A riot of greenery, flowers,

The sun shines on its crosses.

Life is long and forever,

The hand built tightly...

The Terrible Tsar himself spoke,

Our sovereign of all Rus':

“There will be a temple in the capital,

Must be like a miracle bird.

You scare him a little and he takes off,

It will fly in a clear sky.

Are there any artisans here?

Who will build a miracle temple,

Or stayed here in Russia,

Ragged, naked, and all sorts of disgrace”?

Two people emerge from the crowd,

And they go to the king’s call

Bent double at the waist,

And they bow to the king.

Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,

The rumor about them is high.

And in life they are not cunning,

And in construction they are wise.

Two Pskov masters,

Everyone is ready for a feat.

Don't be angry, Lord,

There are masters in Russia.

We will build a temple to the Lord,

Do us this honor.

The king nodded his head to them,

Lands of the Russian sovereign.

And work began in Moscow,

How many people, how much sweat.

They began to build that temple,

Apparently so be it.

Near the Spassky Gate there,

Our temple is growing before our eyes!

Much or little time

Ran away from then on

But then a miracle shone,

They brought gifts to him.

Foreigners are surprised

The people completed the building.

The temple stood like a bird,

And the domes sparkled.

Silence floated in the capital,

Like two magical wings.

Suddenly the people started making noise:

The ringing rang out from the bell towers.

Everyone sang "Hallelujah"

The temple stood, it glowed.

He rushed up with crosses,

It was beautiful under the domes.

The walls are like clouds

It will last in Moscow for centuries.

What happened to the masters!

I can't contain my joy,

Pride tore my heart,

The thrill of the feeling took over.

Everything in my throat is tight,

My eyes became cloudy.

The soul shuddered at once,

A tear rolled down.

Oh, not an easy victory,

A lot of effort has been given

Having experienced my skill,

Every tongue praised God.

Full of the sun,

The temple soared like a wondrous dream.

Joy was overflowing,

Live never die.

Ivan the Terrible approached

I walked around the temple with my retinue.

He hit the walls with a rod,

I tested them for strength.

He approached the masters,

And he asked them the question himself:

Answer me king

It’s better to make a temple.

Well, what is your answer, will you build it or not?

Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,

They prophesied the words in response:

“Isn’t there a cross on us?

Show us the king of the place.

We will build it, order it

Let's do it better, tell me.

Your will, sir,

“The Great Tsar of All Rus'.”

Eh, Slavs - simplicity,

And beauty lives in you.

The king stood in front of the temple,

A predatory gleam shone in his eyes.

The look is heavy and he was silent,

I solved a difficult thought.

"Postnik Yakovlev, Barma,

Words were spoken to them,

I will do you my honor.

I'm happy with what I have

I don't need anything else

This is my reward for you.

Beauty under the skies

It couldn't have been better,

You will part with your eyes,

So as not to see the white light.

And let the soul be glad,

I will leave her life as a reward.”

The royal hand is generous,

Be damned forever.

The king awarded the masters

He blinded me in gratitude.

To avoid being around the world

A better temple than this.

The miracle temple looks at God -

It has stood in Moscow for five centuries. (Bogatyrev Yuri Nikolaevich)

*You are still standing on Red Square,

Telling the world about our mighty power,

In honor of military victories, a cathedral was erected,

The most beautiful of Russian churches!

The symbol of Moscow and the soul of the hidden,

Eternal heir to both glory and troubles,

St. Basil's Cathedral -

Monument to Russian victories!

In the name of Christ to the ringing of bells

Metropolitan Macarius blessed you,

Low bow to the architects Barma and Postnik,

And to the Tsar for the masterpiece of sovereigns! (Marakhin Vladimir)

Is this St. Basil's Cathedral? Not true. It was main temple Moscow? Not true. Did Ivan the Terrible blind the creators of the temple? Not true. Was there only a museum here during Soviet times? Not true. What is the truth?

On July 12, the day of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul, the famous Intercession Cathedral on Red Square. Better known as St. Basil's Cathedral, with its colorful domes and tents, it has long become one of the national symbols of Russia. Religion, culture and history of our country are intertwined in this cathedral into a single whole. It is no coincidence that there are many stories and legends about him. Often, “traditional” opinions about the famous temple turn out to be fiction. After all, for many, the cathedral is just a festive picture, a kind of business card Moscow or tourist label for foreigners. Meanwhile, the true history of this temple is much richer and more interesting than any common misconceptions about it.

Red Square in the second half of the 17th century. Apollinary Vasnetsov. 1925

What is the name of the cathedral?

Take, for example, the name of the cathedral. People call it the Temple or St. Basil's Cathedral. terrible mistake this is not the case. But few people know that its first and main name is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary “on the Moat.” St. Basil's Cathedral is, rather, the “folk” name assigned to it.

Internal gallery around the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Intercession Cathedral was erected according to the vow of Ivan the Terrible, which he made before the campaign against Kazan in 1552, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Macarius. The conquest of the Kazan Khanate was the most important event in the history of Russia, and this significance was emphasized by the construction of a grandiose cathedral.

Another misconception is that a cathedral is only one temple. They call it St. Basil's Cathedral, period. In fact, in 1555–1561, nine churches were erected on a single foundation (basement), five of which were then consecrated in memory of the Kazan campaign. According to historical documents, the main part of the cathedral was erected in the autumn of 1559. At the same time, the consecration of all its churches, except for the central one, took place. And only a year and a half later, on June 29 according to the old calendar, the entire cathedral was consecrated. This day is considered the date of completion of the temple.

Reliquary with the relics of St. Basil

In the center of the cathedral is the main temple - the actual Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowned with a small onion dome. On October 1, 1552, the assault on Kazan began - at the same time church calendar The Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary was celebrated. Therefore, the central temple was named in honor of this holiday, and then the entire cathedral was named after it. By the way, the Intercession Cathedral was at that time the tallest building in Moscow. Before the reconstruction of the Ivan the Great bell tower in the Kremlin at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century, it was the high-rise dominant feature of the then Moscow.

In total, the cathedral has eleven domes. Ten are the domes of the churches according to the number of thrones, and there is another dome above the bell tower. The complex architectural composition and construction program of the cathedral most likely belonged to Metropolitan Macarius, who wanted to embody the image of the Heavenly City of Jerusalem on earth in the multi-altar church, as well as to exalt the role of Moscow and Ivan the Terrible.

Eight churches are located symmetrically around the main temple in the form of an eight-pointed star. Four large churches look strictly at the cardinal points.

Church of Cyprian and Justina

The memory of the saints falls on the second of October (October 15, New Art.), and it was on this day that Kazan was taken.

Church of Gregory of Armenia

Gregory of Armenia - educator of Great Armenia. His memory is celebrated on September 30 (October 13 N.S.). In 1552, on this day, an important event in the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arsk Tower of Kazan.

Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

The church was consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, it was to this chapel that the procession of the cross from the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin took place with the “procession on the donkey” of the Patriarch. That's why the chapel was built on the side closest to the Kremlin.

Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

Consecrated in the name of St. Varlaam of Khutyn, Novgorod saint, founder and abbot of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Khutyn Monastery.

Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky

This 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, which is why it later received the name “Nikola Velikoretsky”. In 1555, by order of Ivan the Terrible, this icon was brought in a religious procession along the rivers from Vyatka to Moscow.

Church of Alexander Svirsky

It is consecrated in the name of this saint, because his memory is celebrated on the same day on which the defeat of the Epancha cavalry took place on the Arsk field.

Belfry

Church of the Three Patriarchs (John, Alexander and New Paul)

It was named so because in 1552, on the day of remembrance of the patriarchs, August 30 (September 12, n.st.), a victory was won over Prince Epancha, who came from the Crimea to help the Kazan Tatars.

Holy Trinity Church

St. Basil's Church

The only temple where regular services are held today.

Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It was on the first of October 1552, on the feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary, that the assault on Kazan began.

Where did the name "St. Basil's Cathedral" come from?

But why did they begin to call the Intercession Cathedral the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed and associate it not with Ivan the Terrible and the Kazan campaign, but with the name of the holy fool? The fact is that in 1588 a chapel was added to the cathedral on the north-eastern side, consecrated in honor of St. Basil. It was built by order of the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich, over the burial place of St. Basil the Blessed, who died in 1557 and was buried near the walls of the cathedral under construction. The famous holy fool himself became famous in Moscow somewhere at the end of the fifteenth century. All his clothes, winter and summer, consisted only of iron chains. Muscovites loved Vasily very much for his gentle disposition, including the young Tsar, although the holy fool was sometimes not afraid to contradict him and reproach him. Under Fyodor Ioannovich, St. Basil's canonization took place in 1586.

Fragment of the decor of the cathedral

With the addition of St. Basil's Church, services in the cathedral became daily. Since then, the Intercession Cathedral has been known more as St. Basil's Cathedral. Previously, services were held there only in the warm season. The cathedral was not heated, but St. Basil's Cathedral was warm. In addition, since the cathedral was built as a memorial, it was very difficult to hold services in its churches due to their small size. Only the royal family could fit in. Soon the popular name for the cathedral arose - St. Basil's Cathedral.

Were Barma and Postnik blinded?

The most common myth about the cathedral is the chilling story of gullible souls that Tsar Ivan IV allegedly ordered its builders, Postnik and Barma, to be blinded so that they would never be able to build anything else that could surpass and eclipse the newly erected architectural masterpiece. Meanwhile, the story about the blinding of the cathedral builders on the orders of Ivan the Terrible is not confirmed by any real historical evidence. Yes, the builders of the temple were really called Postnik and Barma. In 1896, Archpriest John Kuznetsov, who served in the temple, discovered a chronicle in which it was said that “The pious Tsar John came from the victory of Kazan to the reigning city of Moscow... And God gave him two Russian masters named Postnik and Barma and was wise and convenient for such a wonderful work ..." This is how the names of the cathedral’s builders became known for the first time. But there is not a word about blindness in the chronicles.

Gallery painting

It was previously believed that St. Basil's Cathedral was built by a foreign master, most likely from Italy, judging by the “Italianized” elements in its architecture. And since in Western Europe legends about blinding were common talented architects So that they could not create further, some foreign travelers who came to Moscow “mechanically” transferred them to the master who built the Intercession Cathedral. Later they began to say the same thing about Postnik and Barma. Especially widespread The imaginary story of blinding received thanks to Dmitry Kedrin’s poem “Architects” (1938), after which it was even included in school history textbooks:

And the benefactor asked:

“Can you make it more beautiful,

More beautiful than this temple

Different, I say?”

And, shaking my hair,

The architects answered:

Order, sir!

And they hit the king’s feet.

And then the sovereign

He ordered these architects to be blinded,

So that in his land

There was one like this...

Falcon eyes

They pricked them with an iron awl,

So that the white light

They couldn't see...

And their church stood

It’s like I was dreaming.

And she called

It was as if she was singing their funeral service sobbingly,

And the forbidden song

About the terrible royal mercy

Sang in secret places

Across broad Rus'

In the painting Garden of Eden no flower is the same as another

Has the cathedral always been so colorful?

It may seem that the cathedral has always been so colorful. And this will be another erroneous opinion. In general, the current appearance of the Intercession Cathedral is very different from its original appearance. Then we would see not its today's motley coloring, but simply strict brick walls. During the construction of the cathedral, mainly two materials were used - white stone and brick. All the polychrome and floral painting of the cathedral appeared only in the 1670s. By this time, the cathedral had already undergone significant reconstruction: two large porches were added - on the north and south sides. The external gallery was also covered with vaults. Today in the decoration of the Intercession Cathedral you can see frescoes of the 16th century, tempera painting of the 17th century, monumental oil painting of the 18th-19th centuries, and rare monuments of Russian icon painting.

Since the 20s of the 20th century, restoration work has been going on in the cathedral with some interruptions.

Fragment of the decor of the front entrance

Church of Cyprian and Justina

A depository for the king?

By the way, the temple was previously used as a storage facility for valuables, or, as we would say now, a depository. There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral, and churches with galleries stand on a single foundation - a basement. The basement has very strong brick walls (up to 3 m thick). The height of some rooms is about 6.5 m. They were inaccessible to ordinary parishioners. Deep niches in the basement were used as storage and for the property of wealthy citizens. There is a legend that until 1595 the royal treasury was even hidden here. One entered the basement from the upper central Church of the Intercession of Our Lady via a secret staircase inside the walls, which only initiates knew about.

Rich townspeople hid their treasures in the basement niches

Who wanted to demolish the cathedral?

The cathedral has experienced many tragic moments in its history. It repeatedly suffered fires, which were common for wooden Moscow. IN Time of Troubles it was plundered by the Poles, destroying St. Basil's Shrine. Napoleon placed his stables in the Intercession Cathedral. He even gave the order to blow up the cathedral, which, fortunately, was not carried out.

The Bolsheviks also intended to demolish the temple, since the cathedral interfered with parades on Red Square, but they never decided to do so. There is a well-known legend about how, at a Politburo meeting dedicated to the restructuring of Moscow, Kaganovich demonstratively removed St. Basil's Cathedral from the layout map of Red Square, and Stalin said: “Lazarus, put it in its place!” However, whether this actually happened or not is unknown. However, at least there are master plans for the reconstruction of Moscow in the 1930s, in which the cathedral on Red Square is not present.

The masonry of the domes of the Intercession Cathedral is made in the form of a spiral

Just a museum?

Another mistake would be to think that today’s cathedral is only a museum. Indeed, the historical and architectural museum in the cathedral arose in 1923. However, even then, services in the cathedral still continued. They continued until 1929, and resumed again in 1991. Today the cathedral is jointly used by the State Historical Museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. Divine services are held in St. Basil's Cathedral weekly on Sundays, as well as on patronal holidays - August 15, the day of remembrance of St. Basil, and October 14, the day of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the head of the branch of the State Historical Museum “Pokrovsky Cathedral” Tatyana Saracheva says: “The Intercession Cathedral is a very successful example of the coexistence of both the museum and the Church in one temple.”

Royal Doors of Trinity Church

At the end of the 16th century, the cathedral was the high-rise dominant of Moscow. Its height is 65 meters

Photo by Vladimir Eshtokin