Not far from the Kremlin's Spassky Tower, in the heart of Moscow , is the world-famous St. Basil's Cathedral. He has several more names: the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the moat, as well as the Intercession Cathedral. Until the beginning of the XVII century, this monument of Russian architecture was called Troitsky, because the ancient wooden church was built in honor of the Holy Trinity. Let's make a short excursion into history and find out who built the church of St. Basil the Blessed and where, in fact, this cathedral is located.
The history of the creation of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed
In 1552, the day of the Intercession of the Mother of God, Russian soldiers began to assault Kazan, which, as is known, ended in victory over the Golden Horde. In honor of her, Tsar Ivan the Terrible and ordered the erection of a cathedral that would perpetuate such a joyful event.
The construction of the stone church of St. Basil the Blessed on Red Square began two years later on the site where the Trinity Church was formerly made of wood, and where, according to legend, the holy fool was buried, by whose name the cathedral was named. There is a legend, supposedly Basil Blessed personally collected money for this Temple, however it was or not, nobody knows. After all, the exact date of the death of the holy fool is not established. Nevertheless, Fyodor, the son of Ivan the Terrible, ordered the creation of the chapel of St. Basil the Blessed in the Intercession Church, where his relics were placed.
The Intercession Cathedral was built for six years. The author of the main idea of the temple is Metropolitan Macarius, and it was implemented by two architects, Barma and Postnik. Another version of this says that the Pskov Cathedral was built by a Pskov artisan nicknamed Barma. Another legend says that Ivan the Terrible was delighted with the beautiful temple and did not want to be built anywhere else in the same beautiful cathedral. So he asked the architect if he could build an equally beautiful building. Master brazenly replied that he could do it, and then the king came to anger and ordered to blind the architect.
The style of St. Basil's Cathedral
The building of the Intercession Cathedral is a structure consisting of a central tent and eight main towers located around it. In terms of this is a figure consisting of two combined squares, which together form an eight-pointed star, the symbol of the Blessed Virgin. Also, the number eight symbolizes the day when Jesus Christ was resurrected and is a reminder of the Bethlehem star, which indicated the way to the newborn Christ. The combination of two squares is a symbol of the fact that the Gospel is spread all over the world.
The building of the temple was erected from a new material at the time - a brick. Elements of decor, foundation and basement were lined with white brick. The tent of the central temple is decorated with polychrome tiles and decorated with kokoshnikami. The architectural design of the facade and interior in the cathedral has similar motives.
Sanctified still unfinished in 1557, the Metropolitan Makarii in the presence of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. For a long time the Intercession Cathedral, located on Red Square, was the highest in Moscow .
During the terrible fire that happened in 1737, the Intercession Cathedral was seriously damaged, but then it was restored, and in the 17th century it was again rebuilt. At that time, the tent belfry was united with the temple itself. At this time the cathedral was so multicolored decorated, as we can see it today. In its design there was a beautiful ornamental fresco painting on the vaults and pillars of the galleries.
At the end of the last century, the All-Night Vigil was held in the Church of St. Basil the Blessed after a long break, and then the Liturgy. Every year, the feast of the Intercession here is celebrated.
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