Pokrovsky Cathedral on the moat architect. Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral). Why the Intercession Cathedral on Red Square is called the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed
Coordinates: 55 ° 45'08.88 ″ s. sh. 37 ° 37'23 ″ in. etc. / 55.752467 ° N sh. 37.623056 ° E etc.(G) (O) (I)55.752467 , 37.623056
Cathedral of the Intercession Holy Mother of God that on the Moat, also called St. Basil's Cathedral- 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 Patriarch's "donkey procession".
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 sights of Russia. For many, he is a symbol of Moscow, Russian Federation... In front of the cathedral, since 1931, there has been a bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (installed on Red Square in 1818).
Story
Creation versions
The Cathedral of the Intercession was built in - years 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 architect was the famous Pskov master Postnik Yakovlev, nicknamed Barma. 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 buildings of the Moscow Kremlin), hence such a unique style that combines the traditions of both Russian architecture and European architecture of the Renaissance, but this version is still and did not find any clear documentary evidence.
According to legend, the architect (s) of the cathedral were blinded by the order of Ivan the Terrible so that they could no longer build a similar temple. However, if Postnik is the author of the cathedral, 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 16th - 19th centuries.
- in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (in honor of his Velikoretskaya icon from Vyatka),
- in honor of Much. Adrian and Natalia (originally - in honor of Saints Cyprian and Justina - October 2),
- St. John the Merciful (until XVIII - in honor of St. Paul, Alexander and John of Constantinople - November 6),
- Alexander Svirsky (April 17 and August 30),
- Varlaam Khutynsky (November 6 and 1st Friday of Petrov Lent),
- Gregory of Armenian (September 30).
All of these eight churches (four axial, four smaller between them) are crowned with onion domes and are grouped around the ninth pillar-shaped church towering above them in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God, topped with a tent with a small dome. All nine churches are united by a common base, a bypass (originally open) gallery and internal vaulted passages.
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. Strong brick walls of the basement (up to 3 m in thickness) are covered with vaults. The height of the premises is about 6.5 m.
The construction of the northern basement is unique for the 16th century. Its long corrugated vault has no supporting pillars. The walls are cut with narrow holes - by air... Together with the "breathing" building material- bricks - they provide a special microclimate for the premises at any time of the year.
Previously, the basement premises were inaccessible to parishioners. Deep niche-hiding places in it were used as storage facilities. They were closed with doors, from which hinges are now preserved.
Until 1595, the royal treasury was hidden in the basement. Wealthy townspeople also brought their property here.
They got into the basement from the upper central church of the Intercession of the Mother of God along a white-stone staircase inside the wall. Only the initiates knew about her. Later, this narrow passage was laid. However, during the restoration process of the 1930s. a secret staircase was discovered.
In the basement there are icons of the Intercession Cathedral. The oldest of them is the icon of St. Basil the Blessed at the end of the 16th century, written especially for the Intercession Cathedral.
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 canopy over the grave of Basil the Blessed
The lower church was added to the cathedral in 1588 over the burial of St. Basil the Blessed. The stylized inscription on the wall tells about the construction of this church after the canonization of the saint at the behest of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.
The temple is cubic in shape, covered with a groin vault and crowned with a small light drum with a dome. The covering of the church is made in the same style as the heads of the upper churches of the cathedral.
Oil painting of the church was made for the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral (1905). In the dome is the Savior Almighty, in the drum - the forefathers, in the crosshairs of the vault - Deesis (Savior Not Made by Hands, the Mother of God, John the Baptist), in the sails of the vault - the Evangelists.
On the western wall there is a temple image "The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos". In the upper tier there are images of the patron saints of the reigning house: Theodore Stratilates, John the Baptist, Saint Anastasia, Martyr Irene.
On the northern and southern walls are scenes from the life of St. Basil the Blessed: "The Miracle of Salvation at Sea" and "The Miracle of the Fur Coat." The lower tier of the walls is decorated with traditional Old Russian ornament in the form of towels.
The iconostasis was made in 1895 according to the project of the architect A.M. Pavlinov. The icons were painted under the guidance of the famous Moscow icon painter and restorer Osip Chirikov, whose signature is preserved on the icon "Savior on the throne".
The iconostasis includes earlier icons: "The Mother of God of Smolensk" of the 16th century. and the local image “St. Basil the Blessed against the background of the Kremlin and Red Square "XVIII century.
Above the burial place of St. Basil the Blessed, an arch decorated with a carved canopy is installed. This is one of the revered Moscow shrines.
On the southern wall of the church there is a rare large-scale icon written on metal - "The Mother of God of Vladimir with selected saints of the Moscow circle" Today the most glorious city of Moscow flaunts brightly "(1904)
The floor is covered with Kasli cast iron slabs.
The Church of St. Basil the Blessed was closed in 1929. Only at the end of the 20th century. its decoration was restored. On August 15, 1997, on the feast day of St. Basil the Blessed, Sunday and festive services were resumed in the church.
Second floor
Galleries and porches
An external bypass gallery runs along the perimeter of the cathedral around all the churches. It was originally open. In the middle of the XIX century. the glazed gallery became part of the interior of the cathedral. Arched entrance openings lead from the outer gallery to the platforms between the churches and connect it to the inner passages.
The central church of the Intercession of Our Lady is surrounded by an internal bypass gallery. Its vaults hide the tops of the churches. In the second half of the 17th century. the gallery was painted with floral ornaments. Later, story oil painting appeared in the cathedral, which was repeatedly updated. Tempera painting has now been revealed at the gallery. Oil painting of the 19th century has been preserved in the eastern section of the gallery. - images of saints combined with floral ornaments.
Carved brick 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 embossed details are lined with specially molded curved bricks, and the shallow decor is carved in place.
Previously, daylight penetrated the gallery from the windows above the aisles to the gulbishche. Today it is illuminated by mica lanterns of the 17th century, which were previously used during religious processions. The multi-domed tops of the outrigger lanterns resemble the exquisite silhouette of the cathedral.
The floor of the gallery is laid out of bricks "in a Christmas tree". Bricks from the 16th century have been preserved here. - darker and more resistant to abrasion than modern restoration bricks.
Gallery painting
The arch of the western section of the gallery is covered with a flat brick ceiling. It demonstrates a unique for the XVI century. an engineering technique for a ceiling device: many small bricks are fixed with a lime mortar in the form of caissons (squares), the edges of which are made of shaped bricks.
On this site, the floor is lined with a special pattern in the "socket", and on the walls the original painting has been recreated, imitating brickwork... The size of the painted bricks corresponds to the real one.
Two galleries unite the side-altars of the cathedral into a single ensemble. Narrow internal passages and wide areas create the impression of a “city of churches”. After passing the labyrinth of the inner gallery, you can get to the cathedral's porch grounds. Their vaults are "flower carpets", the intricacies of which fascinate and attract the eyes of visitors.
On the upper platform of the right porch in front of the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the foundations of the pillars or columns are preserved - the remains of the entrance decoration. This is due to the special role of the church in the complex ideological program of the cathedral's dedications.
Alexander Svirsky Church
The dome of the church of Alexander Svirsky
The southeastern church was consecrated in the name of the Monk Alexander Svirsky.
In 1552, on the day of memory of Alexander Svirsky, one of the important battles of the Kazan campaign took place - the defeat of the cavalry of Tsarevich Yapanchi on the Arsk field.
This is one of four small churches 15 m high. Its base - a quadrangle - turns into a low octagon and ends with a cylindrical light drum and a vault.
The original appearance of the interior of the church was restored during the restoration work of the 1920s and 1979-1980s: a brick floor with a "Christmas tree" pattern, profiled cornices, stepped window sills. The walls of the church are covered with a painting imitating brickwork. The dome features a "brick" spiral - a symbol of eternity.
The iconostasis of the church has been reconstructed. Icons of the 16th - early 18th centuries are located close to each other between the wooden beams (tyabls). The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with hanging sheets, skillfully embroidered by craftswomen. On velvet swaddles there is a traditional image of the Calvary cross.
Church of Varlaam Khutynsky
The Royal Doors of the Iconostasis of the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky
The southwestern church was consecrated in the name of the Monk Varlaam of Khutynsky.
This is one of the four small churches of the cathedral, 15.2 m high. Its base has the shape of a quadrangle, elongated from north to south with an apse displacement to the south. The violation of symmetry in the construction of the temple is caused by the need to arrange a passage between the small church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God.
The four goes into a low eight. The cylindrical light drum is covered with a vault. The church illuminates the 15th century chandelier, the oldest in the cathedral. A century later, Russian craftsmen supplemented the work of Nuremberg craftsmen with a pommel in the shape of a two-headed eagle.
The Tyablovy iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. and consists of icons of the 16th - 18th centuries. The peculiarity of the architecture of the church - the irregular shape of the apse - determined the displacement of the Royal Doors to the right.
Of particular interest is the separately hanging icon "The Vision of the Sexton Tarasiy". It was written in Novgorod at the end of the 16th century. The plot of the icon is based on the legend about the vision of the sexton of the Khutynsky monastery of the disasters that threaten Novgorod: floods, fires, "pestilence".
The icon painter depicted the panorama of the city with topographic accuracy. The composition organically includes scenes of fishing, plowing and sowing, telling about Everyday life ancient Novgorodians.
Church of the Lord's Entry 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 Lord's Entry into Jerusalem.
One of the four large churches is an octahedral two-tier pillar covered with a vault. The temple is distinguished by its large size and solemn character of the decoration.
During the restoration, fragments of the architectural decoration of the 16th century were discovered. Their original appearance has been preserved without restoring damaged parts. No ancient painting was found in the church. The whiteness of the walls emphasizes the architectural details made by architects with great creative imagination. Above the northern entrance, there is a trail of a shell that hit the wall in October 1917.
The existing iconostasis was moved in 1770 from the dismantled Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. It is richly decorated with tracery gilded pewter overlays, which give the lightness of the four-tiered structure. In the middle of the XIX century. the iconostasis was supplemented with carved wooden details. The icons in the bottom row tell about the Creation of the world.
One of the shrines of the Intercession Cathedral is represented in the church - the icon “St. Alexander Nevsky in the Life "of the 17th century. The icon, which is unique in its iconography, probably comes from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
In the centerpiece of the icon is the noble prince, and around him there are 33 hallmarks with scenes from the life of the saint (miracles and real historical events: the battle of the Neva, the prince's trip to the khan's headquarters, the battle of Kulikovo).
Church of St. Gregory of Armenia
The northwestern church of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Monk Gregory, the enlightener of Great Armenia (died in 335). He converted the tsar and the whole country to Christianity, was the bishop of Armenia. His memory is commemorated on September 30 (October 13 N.C.). In 1552, on this day, an important event of the campaign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible took place - the explosion of the Arskaya tower of Kazan.
One of the four small churches of the cathedral (15m high) is a quadrangle, turning into a low octagon. Its base is elongated from north to south with a displacement of the apse. The violation of symmetry is caused by the need to arrange a passage between this church and the central one - the Intercession of the Mother of God. The light drum is covered with a vault.
The architectural decoration of the 16th century has been restored in the church: ancient windows, half-columns, cornices, a brick floor laid out "in a Christmas tree." As in the 17th century, the walls are whitewashed, which emphasizes the severity and beauty of the architectural details.
Tyablovy (tyabla - wooden beams with grooves, between which icons were attached) iconostasis was reconstructed in the 1920s. It consists of windows from the 16th-17th centuries. The Royal Doors are displaced to the left - due to a violation of the symmetry of the inner space.
In the local row of the iconostasis there is an image of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. Its appearance is connected with the desire of the wealthy investor Ivan Kislinsky to rededicate this side-chapel in honor of his heavenly patron (1788). In the 1920s. the churches have returned its former name.
The lower part of the iconostasis is covered with silk and velvet sheets with the image of the Calvary crosses. The interior of the church is complemented by the so-called "skinny" candles - large painted wooden candlesticks of an old form. In their upper part there is a metal base in which tapers were placed.
The showcase contains items of priestly vestments of the 17th century: surplice and phelonion, embroidered with gold threads. The 19th century candlestick decorated with multi-colored enamel gives the church a special elegance.
Church of Cyprian and Justina
Dome of the Church of Cyprian and Justina
The northern church of the cathedral has a dedication, unusual for Russian churches, in the name of the Christian martyrs Cyprian and Justina, who lived in the 4th century. Their memory is celebrated on October 2 (15 N.C.). On this day, 1552, the troops of Tsar Ivan IV took Kazan by storm.
This is one of the four large churches of the Intercession Cathedral. Its height is 20.9 m. The high octahedral pillar is crowned with a light drum and a dome, which depicts the Virgin of the Burning Bush. In the 1780s. oil painting appeared in the church. On the walls are scenes from the lives of the saints: in the lower tier - Adrian and Natalia, in the upper - Cyprian and Justina. They are complemented by multi-figure compositions on the theme of gospel parables and scenes from the Old Testament.
The appearance in the painting of images of the martyrs of the 4th century. Adrian and Natalia is associated with the renaming of the church in 1786. A wealthy contributor Natalya Mikhailovna Khrushcheva donated funds for repairs and asked to consecrate the church in honor of its heavenly patrons. At the same time, a gilded iconostasis in the style of classicism was made. He is a magnificent example of skillful wood carving. The bottom row of the iconostasis depicts scenes of the Creation of the world (days one and four).
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities in the cathedral, the churches returned to their original name. Recently, it appeared before visitors renewed: in 2007, the wall paintings and the iconostasis were restored with the charitable support of the Russian Railways Joint Stock Company.
Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky
Iconostasis of the Church of St. Nicholas Velikoretsky
The southern church was consecrated in the name of the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint was found in the city of Khlynov on the Velikaya River and later received the name "Nikola Velikoretsky".
In 1555, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, they brought miraculous icon procession along the rivers from Vyatka to Moscow. An event of great spiritual significance determined the dedication of one of the chapels of the Intercession Cathedral under construction.
One of the large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octahedral pillar with a light drum and vault. Its height is 28 m.
The ancient interior of the church was badly damaged during a fire in 1737. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. a single complex of decorative and fine arts was formed: a carved iconostasis with full ranks of icons and a monumental narrative painting of walls and vaults. The lower tier of the octagon contains the texts of the Nikon Chronicle about bringing the image to Moscow and illustrations for them.
In the upper tier, the Mother of God is depicted on the throne, surrounded by the prophets, above - the apostles, in the vault - the image of the Almighty Savior.
The iconostasis is richly decorated with stucco floral decoration with gilding. The icons are painted in oil in narrow profiled frames. In the local row is placed the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Life of the 18th century. The lower tier is decorated with engraving on levkas imitating brocade.
The interior of the church is complemented by two external two-sided icons depicting St. Nicholas. They performed religious processions around the cathedral.
At the end of the 18th century. the floor of the church was covered with white stone slabs. During the restoration work, a fragment of the original coating of oak blocks was discovered. This is the only site in the cathedral with a preserved wooden floor.
In 2005-2006. the iconostasis and monumental painting of the church were restored with the assistance of the Moscow International Currency Exchange.
Church of the Holy Trinity
The eastern one was consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity. It is believed that the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient Trinity Church, by the name of which the entire temple was often named.
One of the four large churches of the cathedral is a two-tiered octahedral pillar, ending with a light drum and a dome. Its height is 21 m. In the process of restoration in the 1920s. in this church, the ancient architectural and decorative decoration was most fully restored: half-columns and pilasters framing the arches-entrances of the lower part of the octagon, a decorative belt of arches. In the vault of the dome, a spiral is laid out with small-sized bricks - a symbol of eternity. The stepped windowsills in combination with the whitewashed smoothness of the walls and vaults make the Trinity Church especially light and elegant. Under the light drum, “voices” are built into the walls - clay vessels designed to amplify sound (resonators). The church illuminates the oldest Russian chandelier in the cathedral of the late 16th century.
On the basis of restoration studies, the form of the original, so-called "tyabla" iconostasis was established ("tyabla" - wooden beams with grooves, between which the icons were attached close to each other). The peculiarity of the iconostasis is the unusual shape of the low royal doors and three-row icons that form three canonical ranks: prophetic, Deesis and festive.
The Old Testament Trinity in the local row of the iconostasis is one of the most ancient and revered icons of the cathedral of the second half of the 16th century.
Church of 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, 14.9 m high. The walls of the quadrangle turn into a low octagon with a cylindrical light drum. The church is interesting for the original ceiling system with a wide dome, in which the composition "Savior Not Made by Hands" is located.
Wall oil painting made in the middle of the 19th century. and reflects in its stories the then change of the name of the church. In connection with the transfer of the throne of the cathedral church of St. Gregory of Armenia, it was rededicated in memory of the enlightener of Great Armenia.
The first tier of the painting is dedicated to the life of St. Gregory of Armenia, in the second tier - the history of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, its bringing to Tsar Avgar in the Asia Minor city of Edessa, as well as scenes from the lives of the Patriarchs of Constantinople.
The five-tiered iconostasis combines baroque and classical elements. This is the only one in the cathedral altar barrier mid-19th century It was made especially for this church.
In the 1920s, at the beginning of scientific museum activities, the churches returned to their original name. Continuing the traditions of Russian patrons of art, the management of the Moscow International Currency Exchange contributed to the restoration of the church's interior in 2007. For the first time in many years, visitors were able to see one of the most interesting churches of the cathedral.
Central Church of the Intercession of the Virgin
Iconostasis
Interior view of the drum of the central dome
Bell tower
Bell tower
The modern bell tower of the Intercession Cathedral was built on the site of the ancient belfry.
By the second half of the 17th century. the old belfry fell into disrepair and fell into disrepair. In the 1680s. it was replaced by a bell tower, which still stands today.
The base of the bell tower is a massive high quadrangle, on which an octagon with an open area is placed. The platform is fenced with eight pillars connected by arched spans and crowned with a high octagonal tent.
The ribs of the tent are decorated with multicolored tiles with white, yellow, blue and brown glaze. The edges are covered with curly green tiles. The tent ends with a small onion dome with an eight-pointed cross. There are small windows in the tent - the so-called "rumors", designed to amplify the sound of the bells.
Inside the open area and in the arched openings, 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 were used again.
see also
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - a memorial church in memory of Alexander II in St. Petersburg, for which the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed served as one of the models
Notes (edit)
Literature
- Gilyarovskaya N. St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow: Monument of Russian architecture of the 16th-17th centuries. - M.-L .: Art, 1943 .-- 12, p. - (Mass library).(region)
- Volkov A.M. Architect: Novel / 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 -)
Links
The chronicles call the authors of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed the Russian architects Postnik and Barma, who, most likely, built the cathedral without any drawings at all. There is a legend according to which Ivan the Terrible, having seen the cathedral built according to their project, was so delighted with its beauty that he ordered to blind the architects so that they could not build a temple anywhere else equal in beauty to the Intercession Cathedral. Some modern historians offer a version according to which the architect of the temple was one person - Ivan Yakovlevich Barma, who was nicknamed Postnik because he kept a strict fast. As for the legend of the blinding of Barma and Postnik, its partial refutation can be the fact that Postnik's name is later found in the chronicle in connection with the creation of other significant architectural structures.
The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed is a symmetrical ensemble of eight pillar-like churches surrounding the ninth - the highest - temple, crowned with a tent. The side-altars are connected to each other by a system of transitions. The pillar-like churches are crowned with onion domes, none of which repeats the others in architectural decoration. One of them is densely covered with golden cones, they are like stars in the sky on a dark night; on the other, scarlet belts run in zigzags across the bright field; the third resembles a peeled orange with yellow and green slices. Each dome is decorated with cornices, kokoshniks, windows, niches.
Until the end of the 17th century, when the Ivan the Great Bell Tower was built on the territory of the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral was the tallest building in Moscow. The height of the cathedral is 60 meters. In total, there are nine iconostases in the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, in which there are about 400 icons of the 16th-19th centuries, representing the best examples of the Novgorod and Moscow icon-painting schools.
One of the most interesting and beautiful sights of the Russian capital is St. Basil's Cathedral (photo below), also known as the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, built in the 16th century by order of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. Almost every person in the country knows that it is on Red Square, but not everyone knows the history of its construction and the legends associated with it. But still it will not be enough to learn only about the cathedral. The saint, in whose honor the chapel was built, and later the temple itself began to be called, bore the name Basil the Blessed. The story of his life, deeds and death is no less interesting than the story of the construction of the cathedral.
Creator versions
(a photo of it is decorated with many postcards for tourists) was erected in the period from 1555 to 1561 in memory of the capture of the fortified city of Kazan by Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich. There are many versions of who was the real creator of this architectural monument. Let's consider only three main options. The first of them is the architect Postnik Yakovlev, who bore the nickname Barma. It was a well-known Pskov master at that time. The second option is Barma and Postnik. These are two architects who participated in the construction of this temple. And the third - the cathedral was erected by some unknown Western European master, presumably from Italy.
In favor latest version says the fact that most of the buildings in the Kremlin were built by immigrants from this particular country. The unique style in which the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed was created (photos show it perfectly), harmoniously combined the traditions of Russian and European architecture. But it should be noted right away that this version has absolutely no documentary evidence.
There is also a legend according to which all the architects who worked on the project of the temple were deprived of their eyesight on the orders of Ivan the Terrible - with the goal that they would never be able to build anything similar again. But there is one problem. If the author of the temple is still Postnik Yakovlev, then he could not be blinded in any way. Just a few years later, he also worked on the creation of the Kremlin in Kazan.
Temple structure
The cathedral has only ten domes: nine of them are located above the main building, and one is above the bell tower. It includes eight temples. Their thrones were consecrated only in honor of those holidays, on the days of which the decisive battles for Kazan took place. All eight churches are located around the highest ninth, which has a pillar structure. It was built in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God and ends with a tent with a small dome. The rest of the domes of St. Basil the Blessed look traditional at first glance. They have a bulbous shape, but differ from each other in their design. All nine temples stand on a common foundation and are interconnected by vaulted internal passages and a bypass gallery, which in the original version was open.
In 1558, a side-altar was added to the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God, which was consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed. It was erected in the place where the relics of this saint were previously located. Also, his name gave the cathedral a second name. Approximately 20 years later, the temple acquired its own hipped bell tower.
Ground floor - basement
It must be said that St. Basil's Cathedral (the photo, of course, does not show this) does not have a basement. All of its constituent churches stand on one foundation, called the basement. It is a structure with rather thick (up to 3 m) walls, divided into several rooms, the height of which is more than 6 m.
The northern basement has, one might say, a unique construction for the 16th century. Its vault is made in the form of a box without supporting pillars, despite the fact that it is long. There are narrow openings in the walls of this room, called air vents. Thanks to them, a special microclimate is created here, which remains unchanged throughout the year.
Once upon a time, all the premises of the basement were inaccessible to parishioners. These deep niche caches were used as storage facilities. Previously, they were closed by doors. But now only loops are left of them. Until 1595, the royal treasury and the most valuable property of wealthy citizens were kept in the basement.
To get into these previously secret rooms of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow, one had to walk up a white-stone staircase inside the wall, which only the initiates knew about. Later, as unnecessary, this move was laid and forgotten about, but in the 30s of the last century it was accidentally discovered.
Chapel organized in honor of St. Basil the Blessed
It is a cubic church. It is covered with a cresting vault with a small drum of light topped with a dome. The very covering of this temple is made in the same style as the upper churches of the cathedral. There is a stylized inscription on the wall here. She reports that the Church of St. Basil the Blessed was added in 1588 right above the saint's burial immediately after his canonization by order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.
In 1929, the temple was closed for worship. Only at the end of the last century was its decoration finally restored. The memory of St. Basil the Blessed is honored on August 15. It was this date in 1997 that was the starting point for the resumption of services in his church. Today, over the very burial of the saint there is a shrine with his relics, decorated with fine carvings. This Moscow shrine is the most revered among the parishioners and guests of the temple.
Decoration of the church
I must admit that it is impossible in one article to reproduce in words all the beauties for which the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed is famous. Describing them would take more than one week, and possibly months. Let us dwell only on the details of the decoration of the church, consecrated in honor of this particular saint.
Her oil painting was timed to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral. Vasily the Blessed is depicted on the southern and northern walls. Pictures from his life represent episodes about the miracle with a fur coat and salvation at sea. Under them, on the lower tier, there is an ancient Russian ornament made of towels. In addition, on the south side of the church there is a large-sized icon painted on a metal surface. This masterpiece was painted in 1904.
The western wall is decorated with a temple image of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. The upper tier contains images of saints who patronize the royal house. These are the martyr Irina, John the Baptist, and Theodore Stratilat.
The sails of the vault are occupied with the image of the Evangelists, the crosshairs are with the Savior Not Made by Hands, John the Baptist and the Mother of God, the drum is decorated with the figures of the forefathers, and the dome is decorated with the Almighty Savior.
As for the iconostasis, it was made according to the project of A. M. Pavlinov in 1895, and the painting of the icons was supervised by the famous Moscow restorer and icon painter Osip Chirikov. His original autograph is preserved on one of the icons. In addition, the iconostasis also has older images. The first is the icon "The Mother of God of Smolensk" dating back to the 16th century, and the second is the image of St. Basil the Blessed, where he is depicted against the background of Red Square and the Kremlin. The latter dates back to the 18th century.
Bell tower
In the middle of the 17th century, the previously built belfry was in a terrible state. Therefore, it was decided to change it to a bell tower in the 80s of the same century. By the way, it is still standing. The base for the bell tower is a high and massive quadrangle. On top of it, a more graceful and delicate octagon is erected, made in the form of an open area, which is fenced with eight pillars, and they, in turn, are connected at the top by arched spans.
The bell tower is crowned with an octahedral rather high tent with ribs, decorated with multicolored tiles with blue, white, brown and yellow glaze. Its edges are covered with green curly tiles and small windows, which, when the bells ring, can significantly enhance their sound. At the very top of the tent is a small onion dome with a gilded cross. Inside the site, as well as in the arched openings, bells are suspended, which were cast in the 17th-19th centuries by famous Russian craftsmen.
Museum
In 1918, the Intercession Cathedral was recognized by the Soviet authorities as a historical architectural monument of not only national but also international significance and was taken under state protection. It was then that they began to consider it a museum. Its first caretaker was Ioann Kuznetsov (archpriest). It must be said that after the revolution, the temple was, without exaggeration, in a very disastrous situation: almost all the glass was broken, the roof was full of holes in many places, and in winter there were snowdrifts right inside the premises.
Five years later, it was decided to create a historical and architectural complex on the basis of the cathedral. Its first head was E. I. Silin, a researcher at the Moscow Historical Museum. Already on May 21, the first visitors examined the temple. From that time on, work began on staffing the fund.
A museum called "Pokrovsky Cathedral" in 1928 turned into a branch of the Historical Museum. A year later, the temple was officially closed for services and all the bells were removed. In the 30s of the last century, rumors spread that they were planning to demolish it. But he was still lucky enough to avoid such a fate. Despite the fact that here for almost a century, the temple is always open for Muscovites and guests of the capital. For all the time, the museum was closed only once, when the Great Patriotic War was going on.
After the end of the war, all measures were immediately taken to restore the cathedral, so by the day of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the capital, the museum started working again. He gained wide fame for himself in the days of Soviet Union... It should be noted that the museum was well known not only in the USSR, but also in many other countries. Since 1991, the temple has been in use as Orthodox Church and the State Historical Museum. After a long break, services have finally resumed here.
Saint's childhood
The future Moscow wonderworker Blessed Vasily was born at the very end of 1468. According to legend, this happened right on the porch of the Yelokhovsky Church, erected in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. His parents were common people... When he grew up, he was sent to study shoemaking. Over time, his mentor began to notice that Vasily was not like all the other children.
An example of his originality is the following case: once a merchant brought bread to Moscow and, seeing a workshop, went to order his boots. At the same time, he asked that he could not wear shoes for a year. Hearing these words, Blessed Basil burst into tears and promised that the merchant would not even have time to wear off these boots. When the master, who did not understand anything, asked the boy why he thought so, the child explained to his teacher that the customer would not be able to put on the boots, as he would soon die. This prophecy came true in just a few days.
Recognition of holiness
When Vasily was 16 years old, he moved to Moscow. It was here that his thorny path as a holy fool began. According to eyewitnesses, Blessed Basil walked the streets of the capital barefoot and naked almost all year round, regardless of whether there was a fierce bitter frost or a scorching summer heat.
It was considered strange not only his but also his actions. For example, passing by market stalls, he could spill a vessel filled with kvass, or overturn a counter with rolls. For this, Basil the Blessed was often beaten by angry merchants. As strange as it sounds, he always gladly accepted the beatings and even thanked God for them. But as it turned out later, the spilled kvass was unusable, and the rolls were poorly baked. Over time, he was recognized not only as an accuser of unrighteousness, but as a man of God and a fool.
Here is another incident from the life of a saint. Once a merchant decided to build a stone church in Moscow, on Pokrovka. But for some reason its vaults collapsed three times. He came to St. Basil the Blessed to seek advice on this matter. But he sent him to Kiev, to poor John. Upon arrival in the city, the merchant found the man he needed in a poor hut. John sat and rocked the cradle, in which there was no one. The merchant asked him whom he still pumps. He answered him that he was lulling his mother for his birth and upbringing. Only then did the merchant remember his mother, whom he had once driven out of the house. It immediately became clear to him why he was unable to finish building the church. Returning to Moscow, the merchant found his mother, asked her forgiveness and took her home. After that, he easily managed to finish building the church.
The deeds of the miracle worker
Blessed Basil always preached mercy to others and helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, while needing help more than others. On this occasion, there is a description of one case when he gave all the royal things presented to him to a visiting foreign merchant, who, by chance, lost absolutely everything. The merchant had not eaten for several days, but could not ask for help, as he was wearing expensive clothes.
Basil the Blessed always severely condemned those who gave alms out of selfish motives, and not out of compassion for poverty and misfortune. For the sake of saving his neighbors, he even went to taverns, where he consoled and tried to cheer up the most despondent people, seeing in them the seeds of kindness. He purified his soul so much with prayers and great deeds that the gift of foresight was revealed to him. In 1547, the Blessed One was able to predict the great fire that happened in Moscow, and with his prayer he extinguished the flame in Novgorod. Also, his contemporaries argued that once Vasily reproached Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible himself, since during the divine service he was thinking about building his palace on Vorobyovy Gory.
The saint died on August 2, 1557. The then Moscow Metropolitan Macarius and his clergy performed the burial of Basil. He was buried at the Trinity Church, where in 1555 they began to build the Intercession Church in memory of the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. 31 years later, on August 2, this saint was glorified by a Council headed by Patriarch Job.
Contemporaries described him in about the same way, and they necessarily mentioned three features: he was extremely thin, wore a minimum of clothes and always had a staff in his hand. This is exactly how Vasily the Blessed appears before us. Photos of icons and paintings with his image are presented in this article.
The veneration of this holy miracle worker among the people was so great that the Cathedral of the Intercession began to be called by his name. By the way, his chains are still being preserved at the Theological Academy of the capital. Anyone who wants to admire a beautiful monument of medieval architecture can find it at the address: St. Basil's Cathedral.
Intercession Cathedral, built in Moscow in 1555 60 to commemorate the annexation of Kazan to Rus state vu rus. masters Barma and Postnik (at the present time N. P. Kalinin put forward a hypothesis that this is one person). V. B. x. presents a composition of 9 ... ... Soviet Historical Encyclopedia
- (a later and more common name for the Intercession Cathedral on the moat), in Moscow, on Red Square. An outstanding monument of Russian architecture. Nowadays a branch of the State Historical Museum. Built of bricks (foundations, plinth and a number of details from white ... ... Art encyclopedia
In Moscow, an outstanding monument of Russian architecture. Built in 1555 60 by architects Barma and Postnik (according to some assumptions, the same person) to commemorate the victory over the Kazan Khanate. V. B. x. (originally the Intercession Cathedral that ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of the Intercession, also called the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. The Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat, also called the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, is an Orthodox church located on Red Square in Moscow. A well-known monument of Russian architecture. Until XVII ... Wikipedia
Basil's Cathedral- (Intercession Cathedral) a temple located on Red Square in Moscow. Built in the middle of the 16th century. by order of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of the Kazan Khanate. On October 1, 1552, on the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, the assault on Kazan began, which ... Orthodoxy. Reference dictionary
BASIL THE BLESSED TEMPLE (Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat) in Moscow on Red Square, a monument of Russian architecture, now a branch of the Historical Museum. Built in 1555 61 by architects Barma and Postnik (according to some assumptions, one and the same person) in ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Basil's Cathedral- St. Basil's Cathedral. BASIL THE BLESSED TEMPLE (Intercession Cathedral on the Moat) in Moscow, on Red Square, a monument of Russian architecture. Built in 1555 60 by architects Barma and Postnik (according to some assumptions, one and the same person) in ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Intercession Cathedral on the Moat) in Moscow, on Red Square, a monument of Russian architecture, now a branch of the Historical Museum. Built in 1555-1561 by architects Barma and Postnik (according to some assumptions, one and the same person) to commemorate the conquest of ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Or the Intercession Cathedral in Moscow. In the place where this temple now stands, originally there was a church in the name of St. Trinity and the cemetery, where in 1552 St. B. Blessed. Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible, after the conquest of Kazan, built ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Books
- Pokrovsky Cathedral St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square, Yukhimenko E., Beautifully illustrated gift edition of large format in a case. This book will be a wonderful gift. .This edition for the first time gives the general reader the opportunity to detail ... Category: Painting. Graphics. Museums of the world
- Intercession Cathedral. St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square, Yukhimenko E.M. For the first time, this publication gives the general reader the opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the history, external and internal appearance of the world famous monument of Russian architecture - Pokrovsky ... Category: Monasteries, temples, cathedrals Series: Publisher:
- The Orthodox Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed (XVI century) is a symbol of Russian church architecture that time.
- V Soviet time there was a museum, services were resumed in 1991. Now held every week.
- Architect, who built the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, was called Barma Postnik.
- The magnificently decorated church was a thanksgiving to the Almighty for the outstanding military success - capture of Kazan.
- The cathedral consists of nine separate churches, which are located on the same foundation and are connected by two galleries.
- The relics of St. Basil the Blessed, the holy fool who lived in Moscow in the 16th century, are buried in the church.
The narrow galleries between the churches are also decorated: in the 17th century. they were painted with floral ornaments, and a little later - with subject frescoes. Special attention it is worth giving the basement, which previously served as a treasury. Its space is covered with complex corrugated vaults. In addition, a collection of icons is exhibited in the basement, as well as silver dishes, samples of weapons and a beautiful cover on the shrine of St. Basil the Blessed, embroidered in the 16th century.
St. Basil the Blessed and the shrines of the cathedral
Saint Basil the Blessed, whose relics are buried in the Cathedral, lived in Moscow in the 16th century. and was a holy fool - a religious and adherent who rejected worldly goods. His life says that he walked around the year without clothes, slept on the street and observed a strict fast. According to legend, he performed many miracles and possessed the gift of providence: Ivan the Terrible himself was afraid of his speeches. The saint was greatly revered, and his memory has survived to this day. The church also houses the grave of Blessed John of Moscow.