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Intercession Cathedral was erected on Red Square in 1555-1561 in memory of the annexation of the Kazan kingdom - one of the most important events in the era of strengthening the Russian centralized state. The victory over Kazan in 1552 was the first major foreign policy success of the young Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible (the first two campaigns in 1547 and 1550 ended in failure); with the annexation of the Kazan and Astrakhan (in 1554) kingdoms, he also became known as the Tsar of Kazan and Astrakhan.

For the construction of the votive church, a symbolic place was chosen - on the border of the Kremlin and Posad, next to the moat that surrounded the Kremlin walls (hence the name of the temple - "Protection on the Moat at the Trinity Gate" and "Trinity on the Moat"). Chronicle sources testify that the idea of the temple-monument took shape in its final form and began to be put into practice in 1555. The depth of the idea and the originality of its implementation indicate the undoubted involvement in the "development of the project" of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, and Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who were co-authors of the most important cultural undertakings of their era.

Nine separate temples were erected on a single foundation, and one, the central one, topped with a large tent, was surrounded by eight pillars-churches arranged in a cruciform plan. The dedications of the thrones reflected the main stages of the Kazan victory and the idea of the heavenly protection of the Russian army. The central temple was consecrated in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos - on this day, October 1, 1552, the attackers launched a powerful attack, the success of which was crowned with the capture of the city the next day. Dedicated to specific dates are the consecrations of the thrones in the name of Saints Cyprian and Justinia (October 2 - the capture of Kazan), Patriarchs of Constantinople Alexander, John and Paul the New and St. - the beginning of the assault on the city), Varlaam Khutynsky (November 6 - the return of the king to Moscow). Symbolic - and also associated with the Kazan campaign - the names of the thrones in the name of the Holy Trinity and the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem have a meaning.

Only the ninth throne was dedicated to an event not related to the “Kazan capture”. On June 29, 1555, the image of Nikola Velikoretsky was brought to Moscow from Vyatka. Numerous miracles and healings from this image took place both on the way to the capital and in Moscow, in the Assumption Cathedral. In commemoration of such a manifestation of God's grace, the ninth altar of the church under construction was consecrated in memory of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky, later it contained a copy of the miraculous icon, made by Metropolitan Macarius himself.

Started no later than the spring of 1555, the construction of the stone Intercession Cathedral lasted five and a half years. On October 1, 1559, according to the Nikon chronicle, all churches were consecrated, except for the central Church of the Intercession, the construction of which had not yet been completed. The date of completion of construction and consecration - June 29, 1561 (July 12, according to the new style) - was determined only during the restoration work of 1957-1961, when the restorers discovered the text of the temple-built "chronicle" preserved under late plaster, made at the base of the main tent .

Intercession Cathedral is a national symbol of Russia: as a monument to the glory of Russian weapons and as a temple unique in architecture, a recognized masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture. For a long time, based on memoirs of Western origin, it was believed that the creators of the temple were foreign architects. The honor of discovering the names of Russian architects who embodied the idea of a tsar and a metropolitan in stone belongs to the archpriest of the Pokrovsky Cathedral Ioann Kuznetsov, who at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century discovered the names of the builders in chronicle sources of the 17th century - Barma and Postnik "with comrades".

A new page in the history of the temple is connected with the glorification in 1588 of the Moscow holy fool Basil the Blessed, who died on August 2, 1557 and was buried under an arch near the walls of the cathedral that was being built at that time. In it, above the relics of the saint, between the northern aisle of the Holy Trinity and the northeastern aisle of the three Patriarchs, a stone tent was built. In 1588, the arch was dismantled and, at the behest of the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich, the church (mortirium) of St. Basil the Blessed was erected. In 1672, the Church of St. John the Blessed was built on the site of his burial.

The cathedral became a place of crowded and inexhaustible pilgrimage to the "holy coffin" of St. Basil. Unlike the churches of the Intercession Cathedral, where services were performed on the days of the twelfth and patronal feasts, in the church of St. Basil the Blessed, the service was daily. This was the reason for the appearance of the popular name of the Pokrovsky Cathedral - "Church of St. Basil the Blessed".

Near the temple "on the Moat" was buried, according to his will, and another holy fool - John, nicknamed the Big Cap (July 3, 1589 - death, June 12, 1672 - acquisition of relics).

In the second half of the XVI-XVII centuries. The Pokrovsky Cathedral was the semantic center of the celebration of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem: a solemn church procession led by the Tsar and the Patriarch, called the "donkey procession", was heading towards it from the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin.

For four and a half centuries, the Intercession Cathedral has witnessed all the significant events of Russian history: coronation processions and solemn religious processions took place next to it, state decrees were announced and petitions were drawn up, city life was in full swing around it. In 1913-1918. the post of archpriest of the Intercession Cathedral was held by Hieromartyr John Vostorgov.

As a monument of national and world significance, the Pokrovsky Cathedral was one of the first to be taken under state protection in accordance with the decree of October 5, 1918. At the end of 1919, services in the Intercession Cathedral were stopped, but they continued in St. Basil's Church until 1928.

In 1923, the Historical and Architectural Museum "Pokrovsky Cathedral" was opened (since 1928 - a branch of the State Historical Museum).

Church life returned to the Cathedral of the Intercession in 1990, on the patronal feast, when on October 13, after a 70-year break, a vigil was served, and on October 14 the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

By decree of the President of the RSFSR of November 18, 1991, the Russian Orthodox Church was allowed to hold regular services in the Kremlin cathedrals and St. Basil's Cathedral. In accordance with this decree, in November 1992, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Patriarchate signed an Agreement "On the use of the churches of the Moscow Kremlin and the Church of the Intercession on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral) on Red Square in Moscow", obligations under which are strictly observed by all parties and the parties to the agreement - the Ministry of Culture of Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate, the Moscow Kremlin Museums and the State Historical Museum.

On August 15, 1997, after restoration, the Church of St. Basil the Blessed was opened, in which regular services began to take place.

The Intercession Cathedral is one of the most outstanding monuments of Russian history and culture, it is classified as a particularly valuable cultural heritage site of the peoples of the Russian Federation, and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the 20s of the 20th century, extensive scientific and restoration studies were launched at the cathedral, thanks to which it became possible to restore its original appearance and recreate the interiors of the 16th-17th centuries in individual churches. From that moment to the present, four global restorations have been carried out, including architectural and painting works.

In the 60s of the 20th century, unique restoration work was carried out: a chronicle of the church building was opened, in which the builders indicated the exact date of completion of the construction of the cathedral; the iron coverings of the domes of the churches of the cathedral were replaced with copper ones.

In the interiors of four churches, iconostases dating back to the 16th century have been reconstructed, consisting entirely of icons of the 16th-17th centuries, among which there are rarities (“Trinity” of the 16th century, “Alexander Nevsky in Life” of the 17th century). In other churches, iconostases of the 18th-19th centuries have been preserved. Among them are two unique ones from the first half of the 18th century from the Moscow Kremlin.

In the 17th century, over the northern part of the church of St. Basil the Blessed was built the Church of Theodosius, at the end of the 18th century it was turned into a sacristy - a repository of church valuables. Currently, it houses the exposition of the exhibition "Sanctuaries of the Intercession Cathedral", which presents unique examples of ancient Russian painting, book and applied art that belonged to this temple during the 16th-20th centuries, as well as rarities related to the history of the construction of the cathedral.

Since 1990, the Pokrovsky Cathedral has been used both as a museum (a branch of the State Historical Museum) and as a temple in which the Russian Orthodox Church holds divine services: on the days of the main thrones (Intercession and St. Basil's), Patriarchal or episcopal services are held. At the shrine of St. Basil the Blessed every Sunday an akathist is read.

Compiled by E.M. Yukhimenko

The address: Russia, Moscow, Red Square
Start of construction: 1555
Completion of construction: 1561
Number of domes: 11
Height: 65 m
Coordinates: 55°45"09.4"N 37°37"23.5"E
Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

Content:

Short story

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

Located on Red Square next to the Kremlin, it has become a symbol of Moscow and the whole country. St. Basil's Cathedral is a whole city in the city: 10 churches with colorful domes were built on a single foundation. He was built in 1555 - 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the victory over the Kazan Khanate- the age-old enemy of Russia.

View of the Cathedral from the Moscow Kremlin

An old Moscow legend says that during the decisive assault on Kazan, Ivan the Terrible went to the camp church, which was located in a tent, and prayed earnestly. But as soon as the priest had time to utter the words: “And there will be one flock and one shepherd,” the earth trembled from the strongest explosion, and part of the enemy fortifications flew into the air, opening the way for the Russian troops.

For the first time in the history of Russia, it included not a principality, but a whole state - the Kazan Khanate. The capture of Kazan had not only political significance (now the Russians controlled the Volga-Baltic trade route), but also religious - it was a campaign against the infidels. In Moscow, the townspeople greeted Ivan the Terrible with loud exclamations: "Many years to the pious tsar, the conqueror of the barbarians, the deliverer of the Orthodox people!"

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky against the backdrop of St. Basil's Cathedral

Basil's Cathedral - a masterpiece of unknown architects

Initially, a wooden church of the Holy Trinity stood on the site of the future temple, but in 1555 they began to build a stone cathedral, which still exists. Who was the chief architect remains a mystery. According to one version, the tsar invited the Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma, according to another, the names Postnik and Barma belong to two different architects.

According to the third version, St. Basil's Cathedral is a project of an Italian architect. There is a legend that the king ordered the eyes of the creator of the cathedral to be gouged out so that he could no longer repeat his masterpiece. But if we consider the author of the Cathedral of Postnik, then this legend does not find documentary evidence. Postnik could not be blinded, because for several years after the completion of construction he worked on the project of the Kazan Kremlin.

View of the Cathedral from the side of Vasilyevsky Spusk

St. Basil's Cathedral - an outlandish constellation of tents and domes

St. Basil's Cathedral is crowned with 10 domes. 8 churches, located symmetrically around the main temple in the form of an eight-pointed star, symbolize church holidays that fall on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan. On their tops there are 8 onion domes. The central church of the Intercession of the Virgin is completed with a tent with a small dome, and the tenth dome is built over the bell tower.

All 9 churches are united by a single base and an internal bypass gallery, painted with bizarre floral ornaments. None of the domes repeats the other. St. Basil's Cathedral was not always so colorful. The white stone and brick used in the construction of the church gave it austerity and restraint.

View of the Cathedral from Red Square

In the 17th century, the domes of the cathedral were decorated with ceramic tiles, asymmetrical extensions were added, tents were erected over the porches, and the walls were covered with intricate paintings. In 1931, a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, which had previously stood on Red Square, was erected in front of the cathedral.

St. Basil's Cathedral - a temple to the glory of the miracle worker

The main church of the temple was consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. However, the Intercession Church is called St. Basil's Cathedral and is associated not with Ivan the Terrible and the Kazan campaigns, but with the name of the Moscow holy fool - the man of God. Vasily lived on the streets of Moscow and even in severe frost went half-naked, wore chains on his body - iron chains with crosses. Ivan the Terrible himself treated him with reverence.

Kupala Cathedral

When Vasily fell seriously ill, the tsar visited him with his wife, Tsarina Anastasia. A number of miracles are attributed to the saint. While in Moscow, he put out the fire in Novgorod with three cups of wine. Basil denounced lies, and under external piety he could guess the actions of the devil. So, in front of the astonished pilgrims, he threw a stone at the image of the Mother of God, which was revered as miraculous. When the crowd began to beat Vasily, he shouted: “And you will scratch the primer!”. After removing the paint layer, people saw that a devil was drawn under the image of the Mother of God. Vasily died in 1552, and in 1588 a church was built over the burial place of the miracle worker's relics. This extension gave the common name to the Church of the Intercession - St. Basil's Cathedral.

№ 7710342000 State good Website Official site Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral) on the Wikimedia Commons

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

Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral- Orthodox churchlocated on the Red Square of Kitay-gorod in Moscow. 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 to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the "procession on a donkey" of the Patriarch.

Status

St. Basil's Cathedral

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

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

Story

Versions about creation

The Cathedral of the Intercession was built in 1950 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan and the victory over the Kazan Khanate. There are several versions about the founders of the cathedral. According to one version, the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma, was the architect. According to another, widely known version, Barma and Postnik are two different architects, both involved in the construction; this version is now obsolete. 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 structures 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 never found any clear documentary evidence.

According to legend, the architect (architects) of the cathedral were blinded by order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could no longer build a similar temple. However, if the author of the cathedral is Postnik, then he could not be blinded, since for several years after the construction of the cathedral he participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin.

Cathedral at the end of the XVI - XIX centuries.

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

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

First floor

basement

"Our Lady of the Sign" in the basement

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

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

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

They got into the basement from the upper central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God along the intra-walled white stone staircase. Only the initiates knew about it. Later, this narrow passage was laid. However, during the restoration process of the 1930s. a secret staircase was discovered.

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

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

Church of St. Basil the Blessed

Canopy over the grave of St. Basil the Blessed

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

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

On the western wall there is a temple image "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos". In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Theodore Stratilates, John the Baptist, St. Anastasia, the martyr Irina.

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

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

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

Above the burial of St. Basil the Blessed, an arch decorated with a carved canopy was installed. This is one of the revered Moscow shrines.

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

The floor is covered with cast-iron plates of Kasli casting.

St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decoration was restored. On August 15, 1997, on the feast day of Saint Basil the Blessed, Sunday and holiday services were resumed in the church.

Second floor

Galleries and porches

The central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the upper parts of the churches. In the second half of the XVII century. the gallery was painted with floral ornaments. Later, narrative oil painting appeared in the cathedral, which was repeatedly updated. Currently, tempera painting has been uncovered in the gallery. Oil paintings of the 19th century have been preserved in the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints in combination with floral ornaments.

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

Previously, daylight entered the gallery from windows located above the passages to the promenade. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns of the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-headed tops of the remote lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of the cathedral.

The floor of the gallery is made of bricks "in the Christmas tree". 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 XVI century. engineering method of the flooring device: many small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of figured bricks.

In this section, the floor is lined with a special rosette pattern, and the original painting imitating brickwork has been recreated on the walls. The size of the drawn bricks corresponds to the real one.

Two galleries unite the aisles of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms give the impression of a "city of churches". Having passed the labyrinth of the inner gallery, you can get to the platforms of the porches of the cathedral. Their arches are "flower carpets", the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the eyes of visitors.

On the upper platform of the 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 consecrations of the cathedral.

Church of Alexander Svirsky

Dome of Alexander Svirsky Church

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

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

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

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

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

Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

Royal doors of the iconostasis of the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky

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

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

Four turns into a low octagon. The cylindrical light drum is covered with a vault. The church illuminates the oldest chandelier in the cathedral of the 15th century. A century later, Russian craftsmen added a pommel in the shape of a double-headed eagle to the work of the Nuremberg masters.

The table iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons of the XVI - XVIII centuries. The peculiarity of the architecture of the church - the irregular shape of the apse - determined the shift of the Royal Doors to the right.

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

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

Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

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

The Western Church is consecrated in honor of the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem.

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

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

The current iconostasis was transferred in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which give lightness to the four-tiered structure. In the middle of the XIX century. the iconostasis was supplemented with wooden carved details. The icons of the lower row tell about the Creation of the world.

The church presents one of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral - the icon "St. Alexander Nevsky in his life» of the 17th century. The image, unique in terms of iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

The right-believing prince is represented in the middle of the icon, and around him there are 33 hallmarks with scenes from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: the Neva battle, the prince's trip to the khan's headquarters, the battle of Kulikovo).

Church of St. Gregory of Armenia

The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of St. Gregory, Enlightener of Greater Armenia (d. 335). He converted the king and the whole country to Christianity, was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is celebrated on September 30 (October 13, N.S.). In 1552, on this day, an important event of the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arskaya tower in Kazan.

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

The tyabla (tyabla - wooden beams with grooves between which icons were fastened) iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. It consists of windows of the XVI-XVII centuries. The royal gates are shifted to the left - due to the violation of the symmetry of the internal space.

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

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

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

Church of Cyprian and Justina

Dome of the Church of Cyprian and Justina

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

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

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

Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky

Iconostasis of the Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky

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

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

The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during a fire in 1737. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. a single complex of decorative and fine arts was formed: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and a monumental narrative painting of the walls and vault. The lower tier of the octagon contains the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about bringing the image to Moscow and illustrations for them.

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

The iconostasis is richly decorated with gilded stucco floral decorations. Icons in narrow profiled frames are painted in oil. In the local row there is an image of "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in his life" of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with gesso engraving imitating brocade fabric.

The interior of the church is complemented by two remote double-sided icons depicting St. Nicholas. With them they made religious processions around the cathedral.

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

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

Church of the Holy Trinity

The eastern one is consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Pokrovsky Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, by whose name the entire church was often called.

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

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

"The Old Testament Trinity" in the local row of the iconostasis is one of the most ancient and revered icons of the cathedral 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 memory of the Patriarchs, an important event of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat by the troops of Tsar Ivan the Terrible of the cavalry of the Tatar prince Yapanchi, who was marching from the Crimea to help the Kazan Khanate.

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

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

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

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

In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities, the church returned to its original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian patrons, the 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

Iconostasis

Interior view of the drum of the central dome

Bell tower

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

By the second half of the XVII century. The old belfry was dilapidated and fell into disrepair. In the 1680s it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands to this day.

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

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

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

Notes

Literature

Gilyarovskaya N. 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).(reg.)
Volkov A. M. Architects: Roman / Afterword: Doctor of Historical Sciences A. A. Zimin; Drawings by I. Godin. - Reissue. - M .: Children's literature, 1986. - 384 p. - (Library series). - 100,000 copies. (1st edition - )

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December 25 the museum is closed

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (St. Basil's Cathedral) is one of the most significant monuments of ancient Russian architecture of the 16th century. The cathedral was erected in 1555-1561. at the behest of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in honor of the conquest of the Kazan kingdom.

The central church was consecrated in the name of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Four churches - the Three Patriarchs of Constantinople, Cyprian and Justina, Alexander Svirsky and Gregory of Armenia - were consecrated in the name of the saints, on whose memorial day important events of the campaign took place. Other important events of Russian spiritual life in the second half of the 16th century were also reflected in the program of dedications of the churches of the cathedral: the appearance in the Vyatka lands of a new image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the glorification of St. Varlaam Khutynsky and Alexander Svirsky. The Eastern Church is dedicated to the main dogma of the Christian faith - the Holy Trinity. The Western Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem connects the cathedral with the image of the Heavenly City.

Intercession Cathedral has unique wall paintings, an impressive collection of ancient Russian icon painting and masterpieces of church applied art. The ensemble of ten churches with complete iconostases is unique, the interiors of which reflect the four-century history of the temple.

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral, is an Orthodox church located on the Red Square of Kitay-gorod in Moscow. A well-known monument of Russian architecture. Until the 17th century, it was usually called Trinity, since the original wooden church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity; was also known as "Jerusalem", which is associated both with the dedication of one of the chapels, and with the procession to it from the Assumption Cathedral on Palm Sunday with the "procession on a donkey" of the Patriarch.
Currently, the Pokrovsky Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Russia.
Pokrovsky Cathedral is one of the most famous sights of Russia. For many inhabitants of the planet Earth, it is a symbol of Moscow (the same as the Eiffel Tower for Paris). Since 1931, a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky has been placed in front of the cathedral (installed on Red Square in 1818).

St. Basil's Cathedral on an engraving of the 16th century.

St. Basil's Cathedral. Photo of the beginning 20th century

VERSIONS ABOUT THE CREATION.

Intercession Cathedral was built in 1555-1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible in memory of the capture of Kazan and the victory over the Kazan Khanate.

There are several versions about the founders of the cathedral.
According to one version, the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma, was the architect.
According to another, widely known version, Barma and Postnik are two different architects, both involved in the construction.
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 never found any clear documentary evidence.
According to legend, the architect (architects) of the cathedral were blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could no longer build such a temple. However, if the author of the cathedral is Postnik, then he could not be blinded, since for several years after the construction of the cathedral he participated in the creation of the Kazan Kremlin.

In 1588, the Church of St. Basil the Blessed was added to the temple, for the device of which arched openings were laid in the northeastern part of the cathedral. Architecturally, the church was an independent temple with a separate entrance.
At the end of the XVI century. figured domes of the cathedral appeared - instead of the original cover, which burned down during the next fire.
In the second half of the 17th century, significant changes took place in the external appearance of the cathedral - the open gallery surrounding the upper churches was covered with a vault, and porches decorated with tents were erected over the white stone stairs.
The outer and inner galleries, platforms and parapets of the porches were painted with grass ornaments. These renovations were completed by 1683, and information about them is included in the inscriptions on the ceramic tiles that decorated the facade of the cathedral.

Fires, which were frequent in wooden Moscow, greatly harmed the Intercession Cathedral, and therefore, already from the end of the 16th century. it was undergoing renovations. For more than four centuries of the history of the monument, such works have inevitably changed its appearance in accordance with the aesthetic ideals of each century. In the documents of the cathedral for 1737, the name of the architect Ivan Michurin is mentioned for the first time, under whose leadership work was carried out to restore the architecture and interiors of the cathedral after the so-called "Trinity" fire of 1737. The following complex repair work was carried out in the cathedral at the behest of Catherine II in 1784-1786. They were led by the architect Ivan Yakovlev.

In 1918, the Intercession Cathedral became one of the first cultural monuments taken under state protection as a monument of national and world significance. From that moment began its museumification. Archpriest John Kuznetsov became the first caretaker. In the post-revolutionary years, the cathedral was in distress. Roofs leaked in many places, windows were shattered, and in winter even inside the churches there was snow. John Kuznetsov single-handedly maintained order in the cathedral.
In 1923, it was decided to create a historical and architectural museum in the cathedral. Its first head was the researcher of the Historical Museum E.I. Silin. On May 21, the museum was opened to visitors. Active collection of funds began.
In 1928, the Pokrovsky Cathedral museum became a branch of the State Historical Museum. Despite the constant restoration work that has been going on in the cathedral for almost a century, the museum is always open to visitors. It was closed only once - during the Great Patriotic War. In 1929 it was closed for worship, the bells were removed. Immediately after the war, systematic work began to restore the cathedral, and on September 7, 1947, on the day of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Moscow, the museum reopened. The cathedral has become widely known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders.
Since 1991, the Intercession Cathedral has been in the joint use of the museum and the Russian Orthodox Church. After a long break, services were resumed in the church.

STRUCTURE OF THE TEMPLE.

Cathedral domes.

There are only 10 domes. Nine domes over the temple (according to the number of thrones):
1. Intercession of the Virgin (center),
2.St. Trinity (east)
3. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (zap.),
4. Gregory of Armenia (North-West),
5. Alexander Svirsky (southeast),
6. Varlaam Khutynsky (southwest),
7. John the Merciful (formerly John, Paul and Alexander of Constantinople) (north-east),
8. Nicholas the Wonderworker Velikoretsky (southern),
9. Adrian and Natalia (former Cyprian and Justina) (sev.))
10. plus one dome over the bell tower.
In the old days, St. Basil's Cathedral had 25 domes, denoting the Lord and 24 elders sitting at His throne.

Cathedral consists of eight temples whose thrones were consecrated in honor of the holidays that fell on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan:

- Trinity,
- in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka),
- Entrance to Jerusalem
- in honor of mchch. 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 the Petrov 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 towering dome above them. ninth a pillar-shaped church in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God, completed with a tent with a small cupola. All nine churches are united by a common foundation, bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages.

In 1588, a chapel was added to the cathedral from the northeast, consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed (1469-1552), whose relics were located at the site where the cathedral was built. The name of this aisle gave the cathedral a second, everyday name. St. Basil's chapel adjoins the chapel of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, in which Blessed John of Moscow was buried in 1589 (at first, the chapel was consecrated in honor of the Deposition of the Robe, but in 1680 it was re-consecrated as the Nativity of the Mother of God). In 1672, the uncovering of the relics of St. John the Blessed took place in it, and in 1916 it was re-consecrated in the name of Blessed John, the Moscow miracle worker.
In the 1670s, a hipped bell tower was built.
The cathedral has been restored several times. In the 17th century, asymmetrical outbuildings, tents over the porches, intricate decorative processing of domes (originally they were gold), ornamental painting outside and inside (originally the cathedral itself was white) were added.
In the main, Intercession Church, there is an iconostasis from the Kremlin Church of the Chernihiv Wonderworkers, which was dismantled in 1770, and in the chapel of the Entrance to Jerusalem, there is an iconostasis from the Alexander Cathedral, which was dismantled at the same time.
The last (before the revolution) rector of the cathedral, Archpriest John Vostorgov, was shot on August 23 (September 5), 1919. Subsequently, the temple was transferred to the disposal of the renovation community.

FIRST FLOOR.

BACKGROUND.

There are no basements in the Intercession Cathedral. Churches and galleries stand on a single base - a basement, consisting of several rooms. Strong brick walls of the basement (up to 3 m thick) are covered with vaults. The height of the premises is about 6.5 m.
The construction of the northern basement is unique for the 16th century. Its long box vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - vents. Together with a "breathing" building material - brick - they provide a special microclimate of the room at any time of the year.
Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. Deep niches-hiding places in it were used as storage facilities. They were closed with doors, from which the hinges are now preserved.
Until 1595, the royal treasury was hidden in the basement. Wealthy citizens also brought their property here.
They got into the basement from the upper central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God along the intra-walled white stone staircase. Only the initiates knew about it. Later, this narrow passage was laid. However, during the restoration process of the 1930s. a secret staircase was discovered.
In the basement there are icons of the Intercession Cathedral. The oldest of them is the icon of St. Basil the Blessed at the end of the 16th century, written especially for the Pokrovsky Cathedral.
Also on display are two icons from the 17th century. - "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos" and "Our Lady of the Sign."
The icon "Our Lady of the Sign" is a replica of the facade icon located on the eastern wall of the cathedral. Written in the 1780s. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. the icon was above the entrance to the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed.

CHURCH OF ST. BASIL THE Blessed.

The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial place of St. Basil the Blessed. A stylized inscription on the wall tells of the construction of this church after the canonization of the saint by order of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.
The temple is cubic in shape, covered with a groin vault and crowned with a small light drum with a cupola. The covering of the church is made in the same style with the domes of the upper churches of the cathedral.
The oil painting of the church was made for the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral (1905). The Almighty Savior is depicted in the dome, the forefathers are depicted in the drum, the Deesis (the Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist) is depicted in the crosshairs of the arch, the Evangelists are in the sails of the arch.
On the western wall there is a temple image "Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos". In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Theodore Stratilates, John the Baptist, St. Anastasia, the martyr Irina.
On the northern and southern walls are scenes from the life of St. Basil the Blessed: "The Miracle of Salvation at Sea" and "The Miracle of the Fur Coat". The lower tier of the walls is decorated with a traditional ancient Russian ornament in the form of towels.
The iconostasis was completed in 1895 according to the project of the architect A.M. Pavlinov. The icons were painted under the guidance of the famous Moscow icon painter and restorer Osip Chirikov, whose signature is preserved on the icon "The Savior on the Throne".
The iconostasis includes earlier icons: “Our Lady of Smolensk” of the 16th century. and the local image "St. Basil the Blessed against the backdrop of the Kremlin and Red Square" XVIII century.
Above the burial of St. Basil the Blessed, a cancer was installed, decorated with a carved canopy. This is one of the revered Moscow shrines.
On the southern wall of the church there is a rare large-sized icon painted on metal - “The Mother of God of Vladimir with selected saints of the Moscow circle “Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly” (1904)
The floor is covered with cast-iron plates of Kasli casting.
St. Basil's Church was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decoration was restored. August 15, 1997, the day of memory of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and holiday services were resumed in the church.

St. Basil's Church. To the right is a canopy over the grave of the saint.

Cancer with the relics of St. Basil the Blessed.

SECOND FLOOR.

GALLERIES AND PORCH.

Along the perimeter of the cathedral around all the churches there is an external bypass gallery. It was originally open. In the middle of the XIX century. the glazed gallery became part of the interior of the cathedral. Arched entrances lead from the outer gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it with the inner passages.
The central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the upper parts of the churches. In the second half of the XVII century. the gallery was painted with floral ornaments. Later, narrative oil painting appeared in the cathedral, which was repeatedly updated. Currently, tempera painting has been uncovered in the gallery. Oil paintings of the 19th century have been preserved in the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints in combination with floral ornaments.
Carved brick portals-entrances leading to the central church organically complement the decor of the inner gallery. The southern portal has been preserved in its original form, without later plastering, which allows you to see its decoration. The relief details are laid out from specially molded patterned bricks, and the shallow decor is carved on site.
Previously, daylight entered the gallery from windows located above the passages to the promenade. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns of the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-headed tops of the remote lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of the cathedral.
The floor of the gallery is laid out of herringbone brick. Bricks from the 16th century have been preserved here. - darker and more resistant to abrasion than modern restoration bricks.
The vault of the western section of the gallery is covered with a flat brick ceiling. It demonstrates a unique for the XVI century. engineering method of the flooring device: a lot of small bricks are fixed with lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of figured bricks.
In this section, the floor is lined with a special rosette pattern, and the original painting imitating brickwork has been recreated on the walls. The size of the drawn bricks corresponds to the real one.
Two galleries unite the aisles of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide platforms give the impression of a "city of churches". After passing the mysterious labyrinth of the inner gallery, you can get to the platforms of the porches of the cathedral. Their arches are "flower carpets", the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the eyes of visitors.
On the upper platform of the northern porch in front of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the bases of pillars or columns have been preserved - the remains of the decoration of the entrance.

CHURCH OF ALEXANDER SVIRSKY.

The southeastern church was consecrated in the name of St. Alexander Svirsky.
In 1552, on the day of memory of Alexander Svirsky, one of the important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich Yapanchi on the Arsk field.
This is one of four small churches 15 m high. Its base - a quadrangle - passes into a low octagon and ends with a cylindrical light drum and vault.
The original appearance of the interior of the church was restored during the restoration work of the 1920s and 1979-1980s: a brick floor with a herringbone pattern, profiled cornices, and stepped window sills. The walls of the church are covered with paintings imitating brickwork. The dome depicts a "brick" spiral - a symbol of eternity.
The iconostasis of the church has been reconstructed. Between the wooden beams (tablas), 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 velvet shrouds - the traditional image of the cross of Calvary.

CHURCH OF VARLAM KHUTYNSKY.

The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of the Monk Varlaam Khutynsky.
This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 15.2 m. Its base has the shape of a quadrangle, elongated from north to south with the apse shifted to the south. The violation of symmetry in the construction of the temple is caused by the need to arrange a passage between the small church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God.
Four turns into a low octagon. The cylindrical light drum is covered with a vault. The church illuminates the oldest chandelier in the cathedral of the 15th century. A century later, Russian craftsmen added a pommel in the shape of a double-headed eagle to the work of the Nuremberg masters.
The table iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons of the XVI - XVIII centuries. The peculiarity of the architecture of the church - the irregular shape of the apse - determined the shift of the Royal Doors to the right.
Of particular interest is the separately hanging icon “The Vision of Sexton Tarasius”. It was written in Novgorod at the end of the 16th century. The plot of the icon is based on the legend about the vision of the Khutynsky Monastery's sexton of disasters that threaten Novgorod: floods, fires, "pestilence".
The icon painter depicted the panorama of the city with topographical accuracy. The composition organically includes scenes of fishing, plowing and sowing, telling about the daily life of the ancient Novgorodians.

CHURCH OF THE ENTRY OF THE LORD INTO JERUSALEM.

The Western Church is consecrated in honor of the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem.
One of the four large churches is an octagonal two-tiered pillar covered with a vault. The temple is distinguished by its large size and the solemn nature of the decoration.
During the restoration, fragments of the architectural decoration of the 16th century were discovered. Their original appearance has been preserved without the restoration of damaged parts. No ancient painting was found in the church. The whiteness of the walls emphasizes the architectural details, executed by architects with great creative imagination. Above the northern entrance there is a trace of a shell that hit the wall in October 1917.
The current iconostasis was transferred in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with openwork gilded pewter overlays, which give lightness to the four-tiered structure.
In the middle of the XIX century. the iconostasis was supplemented with wooden carved details. The icons of the lower row tell about the Creation of the world.
The church presents one of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral - the icon "St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life of the 17th century. The image, unique in terms of iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The right-believing prince is represented in the middle of the icon, and around him there are 33 hallmarks with plots from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: the Battle of the Neva, the prince's trip to the khan's headquarters).

GREGORY ARMENIAN CHURCH.

One of the four small churches of the cathedral (15m high) is a quadrangle, turning into a low octagon. Its base is elongated from north to south with the apse shifted. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to arrange a passage between this church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God. The light drum is covered with a vault.
The architectural decoration of the 16th century has been restored in the church: ancient windows, semi-columns, cornices, a brick floor laid out “in a Christmas tree”. As in the 17th century, the walls are whitewashed, which emphasizes the severity and beauty of the architectural details.
The tyabla (tyabla - wooden beams with grooves between which the icons were fastened) iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. It consists of windows of the XVI-XVII centuries. The royal gates are shifted to the left - due to the violation of the symmetry of the internal space.
In the local row of the iconostasis is the image of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. Its appearance is connected with the desire of the wealthy contributor Ivan Kislinsky to re-consecrate this chapel in honor of his heavenly patron (1788). In the 1920s The church was given back its original name.
The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with silk and velvet shrouds depicting Calvary crosses. The interior of the church is complemented by the so-called "skinny" candles - large painted wooden candlesticks of the old form. In their upper part there is a metal base, in which thin candles were placed.
In the display case there are items of priestly vestments of the 17th century: surplice and phelonion, embroidered with gold threads. The 19th-century kandilo, decorated with multi-colored enamel, gives a special elegance to the church.

CHURCH OF CYPRIAN AND JUSTINA.

The northern church of the cathedral has an unusual dedication for Russian churches in the name of the Christian martyrs Cyprian and Justina, who lived in the 4th century. Their memory is celebrated on October 2 (N.S. 15). On this day in 1552, the troops of Tsar Ivan IV stormed Kazan.
This is one of the four large churches of the Intercession Cathedral. Its height is 20.9 m. The high octagonal pillar is completed with a light drum and a dome, in which Our Lady of the Burning Bush is depicted. In the 1780s oil painting appeared in the church. On the walls are scenes from the lives of saints: in the lower tier - Adrian and Natalia, in the upper tier - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of gospel parables and stories from the Old Testament.
The appearance in the painting of images of martyrs of the 4th century. Adrian and Natalia is associated with the renaming of the church in 1786. A wealthy contributor, Natalya Mikhailovna Khrushcheva, donated funds for repairs and asked to consecrate the church in honor of her heavenly patrons. At the same time, a gilded iconostasis in the style of classicism was also made. It is a magnificent example of skillful woodcarving. The bottom row of the iconostasis depicts scenes of the Creation of the World (day one and four).
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities in the cathedral, the church returned to its original name. Recently, it appeared before the visitors updated: in 2007, the wall paintings and the iconostasis were restored with the charitable support of the Russian Railways Joint-Stock Company.

CHURCH OF NIKOLA VELIKORETSKY.

Iconostasis of the Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky.

The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsky icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and subsequently received the name "Nikola Velikoretsky".
In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the miraculous icon was brought in procession along the rivers from Vyatka to Moscow. An event of great spiritual significance determined the dedication of one of the chapels of the Intercession Cathedral under construction.
One of the large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octagonal pillar with a light drum and vault. Its height is 28 m.
The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during a fire in 1737. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. a single complex of decorative and fine arts was formed: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and a monumental narrative painting of the walls and vault. The lower tier of the octagon contains the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about bringing the image to Moscow and illustrations for them.
In the upper tier, the Mother of God is depicted on the throne, surrounded by prophets, above are the apostles, in the vault is the image of the Almighty Savior.
The iconostasis is richly decorated with gilded stucco floral decorations. Icons in narrow profiled frames are painted in oil. In the local row there is an image of "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in his life" of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with gesso engraving imitating brocade fabric.
The interior of the church is complemented by two remote double-sided icons depicting St. Nicholas. With them they made religious processions around the cathedral.
At the end of the XVIII century. The floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During the restoration work, a fragment of the original covering made of oak checkers was discovered. This is the only place in the cathedral with a preserved wooden floor.
In 2005-2006 The iconostasis and monumental painting of the church were restored with the assistance of the Moscow International Currency Exchange.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

The Eastern Church is consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Pokrovsky Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, by whose name the entire church was often called.
One of the four large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octagonal pillar, ending with a light drum and a dome. Its height is 21 m. In the process of restoration in the 1920s. in this church, the ancient architectural and decorative decoration was most fully restored: semi-columns and pilasters framing the arches-entrances of the lower part of the octagon, a decorative belt of arches. In the vault of the dome, a spiral is laid out with small-sized bricks - a symbol of eternity. Stepped window sills in combination with the whitewashed surface of the walls and vault make the Trinity Church especially bright and elegant. Under the light drum, “voices” are mounted in the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church illuminates the oldest Russian chandelier in the cathedral from the end of the 16th century.
On the basis of restoration studies, the shape of the original, so-called "tabla" iconostasis ("tabla" - wooden beams with grooves between which the icons were fastened close to each other) was established. The peculiarity of the iconostasis is the unusual shape of the low royal doors and three-row icons that form three canonical ranks: prophetic, Deesis and festive.
The “Old Testament Trinity” in the local row of the iconostasis is one of the most ancient and revered icons of the cathedral in the second half of the 16th century.

CHURCH OF THREE PATRIARCH.

The northeastern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the three Patriarchs of Constantinople: Alexander, John and Paul the New.
In 1552, on the day of memory of the Patriarchs, an important event of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat by the troops of Tsar Ivan the Terrible of the cavalry of the Tatar prince Yapanchi, who was marching from the Crimea to help the Kazan Khanate.
This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral with a height of 14.9 m. The walls of the quadrangle pass into a low octagon with a cylindrical light drum. The church is interesting for its original ceiling system with a wide dome, in which the composition "The Savior Not Made by Hands" is located.
The wall oil painting was made in the middle of the 19th century. and reflects in its plots the then change in the name of the church. In connection with the transfer of the throne of the cathedral church of Gregory of Armenia, it was re-consecrated in memory of the Enlightener of Great Armenia.
The first tier of the painting is dedicated to the life of St. Gregory of Armenia, in the second tier - the history of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, bringing it to King Avgar in the Asia Minor city of Edessa, as well as scenes from the life of the Patriarchs of Constantinople.
The five-tiered iconostasis combines baroque elements with classical ones. This is the only altar barrier in the cathedral from the middle of the 19th century. It was made especially for this church.
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities, the church returned to its original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian patrons, the management of the Moscow International Currency Exchange contributed to the restoration of the interior of the church in 2007. For the first time in many years, visitors were able to see one of the most interesting churches of the cathedral.

BELL TOWER.

Belfry of the Pokrovsky Cathedral.

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

By the second half of the XVII century. The old belfry was dilapidated and fell into disrepair. In the 1680s it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands to this day.
The base of the bell tower is a massive high quadrangle, on which an octagon with an open area is placed. The site is fenced with eight pillars, connected by arched spans, and crowned with a high octagonal tent.
The ribs of the tent are decorated with colorful tiles with white, yellow, blue and brown glaze. The edges are covered with figured green tiles. The tent is completed by a small onion dome with an eight-pointed cross. There are small windows in the tent - the so-called "rumors", designed to amplify the sound of bells.
Inside the open area and in the arched openings, bells cast by outstanding Russian masters of the 17th-19th centuries are suspended on thick wooden beams. In 1990, after a long period of silence, they began to be used again.
The height of the temple is 65 meters.

INTERESTING FACTS.

In St. Petersburg there is a memorial church in memory of Alexander II - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, better known as the Savior on Spilled Blood (completed in 1907). The Intercession Cathedral served as one of the prototypes for the creation of the Savior on Blood, so both buildings have similar features.