Description of the attraction
One of the most significant Orthodox churches in Russia and the world, The Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin was built in the second half of the 15th century … Today the temple is part of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin" and the oldest of the fully preserved architectural structures of the capital of the Russian Federation.
Construction of the Assumption Cathedral
The first Assumption Cathedral in the capital appeared after the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia transferred the throne to Moscow from Vladimir. This happened in 1326 at Ivane Kalita … The temple looked like the churches of Suzdal and Vladimir - one-domed, crowned with traditional kokoshniks and built using the technique of rough masonry.
A century and a half later, the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was badly damaged in a fire. Metropolitan Philip initiated the restoration of the temple, and the state began collecting donations. The ceremonial laying of the cornerstone took place in 1472. It was decided to build a new church in the likeness of the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral. Two years later, the walls of the new building collapsed after an earthquake. Such natural disasters at that time were not uncommon even in Moscow.
Work at the next stage of construction of the Assumption Cathedral was headed by Aristotle Fioravanti … He was Italian, and his career began brilliantly in his native Bologna, where Aristotle brought to life some very daring architectural projects. Researchers call Fioravanti's activities not so much architectural as engineering - so technically complex problems were solved by an Italian.
Aristotle Fioravanti's project involved not only the use of hewn stone blocks, but also the laying of iron piles to strengthen the walls of the future cathedral. The bricks were built into the masonry very skillfully and the overall white-stone appearance of the building as a whole was preserved. The painting of the cathedral was entrusted to a leading Moscow master Dionysius, and in 1479 the temple was consecrated in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Five centuries of history
The first restoration took place in mid-16th century, when, after the next Moscow fire, it was required to put the Assumption Cathedral in order. Then the domes and the roof were covered with copper sheets, gilded and giving the building a particularly solemn look. It was necessary to additionally strengthen the vaults with reinforced coherent iron in 1624, but only four years later, the Assumption Cathedral was again engulfed in flames. After the next renovation, the walls were re-painted, and fragments of the frescoes of that era in the Assumption Cathedral can still be viewed today. Among the masters who worked on the paintings were many famous icon painters of the 17th century from Kostroma and Vladimir, Suzdal and Novgorod. In total, they wrote almost 250 plot compositions and more than 2000 figures.
Great fire 1737 year, later named Troitsky, again damaged the integrity of the temple and its wall paintings. After a few decades of repairs, the most valuable images stored in the Armory were transferred to the cathedral. All old icons were covered with frames made of precious metals.
Severe trials fell to the lot of the Assumption Cathedral in early 19th centurywhen the retreating army Napoleon robbed Moscow. The French stole many valuable icons and relics, placed horses in the premises of the cathedral, and melted down the precious vestments. The cathedral was re-consecrated in 1813.
Before coronations Alexander III and Nicholas II regular restoration work was carried out, as a result of which fragments of ancient painting were revealed and some scenes that had previously been lost were added.
The temple was closed in 1918 after the Easter service, like other churches on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin. The study of wall paintings, however, continued. In 1930, icons and historical rarities were transferred to the Tretyakov Gallery and the Armory for storage, and after the Great Patriotic War, another restoration made it possible to clear several images of the 14th century.
Today the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral retains its status museum, although on some days divine services are held there.
Important events
The Assumption Cathedral served as a venue for many significant events in the life of Russia. He was crowned to the throne Ivan IV, a Mikhail Romanov was elected king by the Zemsky Sobor, which took place in the temple in 1613.
After Peter I replaced the wedding to the kingdom with a coronation, the cathedral witnessed the accession to the throne of several sovereigns. The last coronation ceremony was held here in 1896. For the solemn ceremony, 2,500 people were hired to prepare the coronation. Priests who blessed Nicholas II to the kingdom, were dressed in brocade vestments, embroidered with gold.
In 1391, a series of famous weddings that took place in the Assumption Cathedral were opened by the wedding of the great Prince Vasily Dmitrievich with Princess Sophia, daughter of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt Keistutovich. They also got married in the temple Ivan III with Sophia Palaeologus in 1472 and Vasily III with Solomonia Saburova in 1505.
Outside and inside
At the top of the cathedral you can see five apses and five chapters, and on the façade there are piers, called spinners and delimited by vertical flat projections - "blades". A decorative belt of low arches and columns divides the building horizontally, and pilasters with lancet windows - vertically.
The main engineering find of the Italian architect is cross vaults, the thickness of which is only one brick. So Aristotle Fioravanti achieved an increase in the internal volume of the cathedral. At the same time, additional arches behind the iconostasis gave the structure special strength and easily held the load.
It is no coincidence that the temple has the status of a museum, because its interior and exterior features are worthy of special attention of fans of ancient Russian architecture.
South facade of the cathedral decorated with frescoes depicting Moscow metropolitans and Novgorod saints. Above them is the image of Our Lady of Vladimir with the archangels.
South facade portal is a double-winged gate, brought, as the legend says, by Vladimir Monomakh from Tauric Chersonesos in the 12th century. The gate leaves are made of copper and are decorated with twenty golden illustrations of biblical subjects. Members of the imperial family entered the cathedral through the southern portal.
Temple north wall contains images of Sergius of Radonezh, Dmitry Prilutsky, Pafnutiy Borovsky and other Orthodox saints and monks.
On east facade you can see frescoes with the New Testament Trinity with God the Father, depicted in the guise of an old man, God the Son and a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.
Inside the cathedral is worthy of special attention Tsar's place - a high tent, erected at the behest of Ivan the Terrible. Tsar's place is made of walnut and linden wood, decorated with carved ornaments depicting flowers, animals and birds. The height of the tent is 6.5 meters. Above the Tsarskoe place is covered with a dome, skillfully carved from wood and decorated with rows of kokoshniks. The tent is crowned by a double-headed eagle, and from below the throne rests on the figures of animals made by master cabinetmakers.
The vaults of the cathedral are decorated paintings on gospel themes … Among others, you can see the Nativity of Christ, the Introduction of the Mother of God into the temple and the Presentation of the Lord.
The largest caller to this day bells also installed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The bell was transformed after the end of the war with the French in 1817 at the factory of the merchant Bogdanov. The bell is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting fragments of battles with Napoleon and portraits of Emperor Alexander I and members of the royal family.
Temple iconostasis
The main iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral is a masterpiece of medieval Orthodox icon painting. Its size, age and art of decoration inspire respect even for those who consider themselves to be atheists.
The iconostasis was painted by masters from ancient Russian cities - Kostroma, Ostashkov and Yaroslavl. V 1653 year they came to Moscow to create 69 images, which in the future will become priceless examples of the ancient art of icon painting.
The iconostasis consists of five tiers, its total height is 16 meters. The forefather's order is represented by full-length images of the forefathers and the icon of the Holy Trinity. Seventeen images of the prophetic tier appear before the icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos. The images of the festive series remind of the most important evangelical events that Orthodox believers remember throughout the year: Christmas and the Annunciation, Baptism and the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Easter and the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The prayer stand of the saints before Christ the Almighty and the Last Judgment are the themes of the Deesis rite of the iconostasis.
Double doors opposite the throne are the main ones in the iconostasis and symbolize the gates of Paradise. In the Assumption Cathedral at the Royal Doors, the Mother of God with the Archangel Gabriel and the Evangelists - John, Luke, Mark and Matthew are depicted. To the right you can see the image of the Savior on the Throne, written in the XII century.
The temple also has iconostases along the southern wall and a northern iconostasis. The southern ones contain icons of the XVI-XVII centuries, one of which was written, in all likelihood, by Dionysius and is called "Metropolitan Peter with his Life." The northern iconostasis is famous for the images brought to the Assumption Cathedral from the Solovetsky monastery.
Burials of the Assumption Cathedral
Throughout the existence of the cathedral, patriarchs and metropolitans were buried in it. The graves of the saints XIV-XVI centuries can be seen in the altar, in the southwest corner and at the north wall. Later burials were made in the 17th century and are located at the walls to the south and west. In total, twenty Russian saints are buried in the church.
The burials are located under the floor, and are distinguished by low rectangular monuments. The graves of the patriarchs are covered with slabs with epitaphs, and next to them you can see the Holy Sepulcher. It contains the staff of Metropolitan Peter and Nail of the lord … Metropolitan Peter was the first of the Kiev metropolitans to move to Moscow in 1325. He devoted his life to the struggle for the unity of the Russian state. Metropolitan Peter was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a saint, and his relics were buried in the Assumption Cathedral. I found my last shelter there and patriarch Hermogenestortured by traitor boyars for loyalty to the Russian people and a call to fight the Polish intervention.
On a note:
- The nearest metro stations are Borovitskaya, Aleksandrovsky Sad, Lenin Library, Arbatskaya.
- Official website: www.kreml.ru
- Opening hours: From May 15 to September 30 - every day except Thursday, from 9:30 to 18:00. Ticket offices are open from 9:00 to 17:00. from October 1 to May 14 - every day, except Thursday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Ticket offices are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Armory and Observation Deck of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower operate on a separate schedule.
- Tickets: on sale near the Kutafya Tower in the Alexander Garden. The cost of a ticket to Cathedral Square, to the Kremlin cathedrals: for adult visitors - 500 rubles. For Russian students and pensioners upon presentation of the relevant documents - 250 rubles. Children under 16 years old - free. Tickets to the Armory and Ivan the Great Bell Tower are purchased separately from the general ticket.
