St Basil Catheral Moscow

Posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed located in Russia is perhaps the most iconic building in Moscow. It was built by Ivan IV(also known as Ivan the Terrible) It took 6 years to build (1555 to 1561)  In 1588 a chapel was added. 

To give a vivid description, the cathedral is a multi-tented church on the Red Square in Moscow that also features onion-like domes. Arguably the most recognized building in Russia; the Cathedral of Saint Basil is an international symbol for the city of Moscow. The interior of the cathedral is a collection of separate chapels. Each chapel is filled with icons, medieval influenced painted walls, and priceless artwork on the top inside of the domes. The feeling is intimate and varied, and when compared to Western cathedrals it is said to consist of more artistic style.

Saint Basil's is located at the southeast end of Red Square, which is just across from the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin. It consists of nine chapels built on a single foundation. In the front garden of the cathedral stands a bronze statue commemorating Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin. These two important figures were who rallied Russia's volunteer army against the Polish invaders during the Time of Troubles in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The construction of a single central tower unifies the respect to each of the saints on whose feast day the tsar had won a battle, into a single cathedral rather than many of them. There’s a popular legend that says that Ivan had the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, blinded to prevent him from building a more magnificent building for anyone else.

Throughout its long history, the cathedral has had to go through a good amount of renovations and reconstruction. Reconstruction is still a work in progress, but the cathedral stays full with tourists every year. Visitors come from all around the world to come and admire its unique architecture. If you enjoy beauty and history, then this is definitely a place you have to come and see for yourself.