Russia Moscow St. Basil’s Cathedral

Tourists planning a trip to Moscow are always interested in where is St. Basil’s Cathedral. This is not surprising, since this cathedral belongs to the largest and most beautiful Orthodox cathedrals not only in Russia, but also in the world.

The temple is an architectural monument of Russian tent architecture of the 16th century. It is located in the very center of the Russian capital and is one of the main attractions of Red Square.

The History of St. Basil’s Cathedral

The cathedral of St. Basil was built in honor of the accession of new lands to the Russian state. As a result of the Kazan campaigns, Tsar Ivan the Terrible managed to conquer the Kazan Khanate. The capture of Kazan took place in 1552, and two years later the construction of a wooden church in honor of this significant event was consecrated on Red Square.

The fact which causes interest is not only the question, where St. Basil’s Cathedral is located, but also the legends that are associated with its construction. According to one of them, the creators of the temple were blinded so that they could not repeat their masterpiece anywhere else.

According to another legend, the holy fool Vasily raised money for the construction of the temple and finally donated an impressive amount to the tsar himself. The day of Vasily’s death is considered to be 1557, his relics are stored in the temple.

The cathedral was rebuilt and destroyed many times due to fires that occurred very often in those days. Several times the cathedral could be destroyed: during the war with the French and during the era of Stalin’s rule. Nevertheless, the temple survived, and worship continued in it until the beginning of the 20th century. Now the famous church of Moscow is a museum. Recently, services have resumed in the cathedral.

St. Basil’s in Moscow: what the cathedral looks like

The temple consists of eight churches surrounding the ninth, the highest of them. Each of the churches has its own entrance and separate lighting, but together they represent a single architectural ensemble.

The temple looks very festive and elegant, sometimes it seems that it has come down from pictures of old Russian fairy tales. Each of the domes of the cathedral looks different, but they are all made in the same style, so they create a harmonious picture.

The thickness of the walls of the cathedral is three meters. If you look closely at the foundation of the church, you will notice that together they form a star – a symbol of the Virgin.The interior of St. Basil Church in Moscow is striking with its painted walls and domes, ancient icons and frescoes painted in the 16-17th centuries. Between churches you can walk through the picturesque passage galleries.