Description of the attraction
The Epiphany Cathedral was built in 1693-1696 with the inclusion in the basement of parts of the original building dating from 1624. In 1697, the northern side-chapel was consecrated in memory of Metropolitan Alexy. The south aisle was turned into a sacristy.
The Cathedral of the Epiphany with the lower church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is a wonderful example of the "Naryshkin Baroque". This style is characterized by the composition of the octagon on the quadrangle and the white-stone decor, oriented towards Western European forms. The temple is distinguished by the high roof of the refectory and the strongly protruding apse of the altar. Of interest are the cathedral's lush cornices in the form of a fringe, an abundance of decorative balusters in platbands, torn pediments, pilasters and shells. Also noteworthy are the columns at the corners of the quadrangle. The roof of the refectory has a baroque pediment.
Inside the cathedral, fragments of the sculptural decoration made by an artel of craftsmen from Switzerland in 1704-1705, "The Crowning of Our Lady" on the altar side, "Christmas" - on the south and "Epiphany" - on the northern walls have survived.
The lower temple served as the burial vault of the Dolgoruks, Yusupovs, Sheremetyevs, Golitsyns. After the closure of the temple, the necropolis was destroyed, only a few tombstones remained.
The cathedral was closed in 1929. A flour warehouse was arranged on the lower floor, and the Ukrainian club was located on the upper floor.
At present, the carved gilded iconostasis, murals and sculptural compositions have been restored in the upper church. In the lower church, the main altar of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and a side-altar in the name of Metropolitan Alexei of Moscow are consecrated.
