These temples are located in different parts of Russia. They were erected at different times by different architects, but all of them are united by unique beauty, unique architecture and rich centuries-old history. To worship these Orthodox shrines, people come from all over the world, regardless of their views and religions.
St. Basil's Cathedral
St. Basil's Cathedral, or Pokrovsky Cathedral - one of the famous cathedrals of Russia and the most beautiful church in Moscow. Located on Red Square, it is rightfully not only a spiritual monument of architecture and art, but also a symbol of all of Russia.
The temple was erected in 1561 by unknown architects on the orders of Ivan the Terrible in honor of the capture of Kazan and consists of 10 churches built on the same base and interconnected by vaulted passages.
Initially, the church had 9 domes and was made in red and white color imitating brickwork. It is not possible to establish the material from which the building facades were covered during construction, since in 1595 the church was badly damaged by fire.
In 1588, a 10 small church was added to the building in memory of the local holy fool Vasily, who lived near the walls of the church and was buried near the northeast wall. After that, the people of the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin received the name of the Cathedral of St. Basil.
Over the centuries, gradual changes have taken place in the cathedral. Curly domes, tiled paintings, bizarre ornaments, arched vaults appeared.
Today, one of the most beautiful temples in Russia is both a cathedral and a branch of the Historical Museum. In 1990, divine services were resumed here, which take place on Sundays and holidays.
Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir
One of the highest, most beautiful and oldest temples in Russia, which is a real monument of white-stone architecture. It was founded by Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1158 on the banks of the Klyazma River.
The building was constructed of limestone and decorated with carvings. The central helmet-shaped dome rises by 33 meters and exceeds the height of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev.
Famous craftsmen from around the world were invited to decorate the temple. The facades were decorated with fancy pilasters, which were crowned with no less original capitals.
The interior was painted by the most famous icon painters - Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. These murals are partially preserved on the walls of the building to the present.
It was in this cathedral that they crowned the throne, and later buried the great Russian princes. The relics of Vladimir princes and clergy rest in the necropolis of the temple. Here Andrei Bogolyubsky, Vsevolod the Big Nest and his children are buried.
Saint Sophia Cathedral, Veliky Novgorod
Built in 1050 by Prince Vladimir, St. Sophia Cathedral is one of the old temples of Ancient Russia that have survived to this day. Not a single photo and description of the most beautiful temple in Russia will convey its greatness, this must be seen with your own eyes.
Despite the fact that the temple was built on the model of Kiev Sophia Cathedral, it has many distinctive features. The majestic stone building is crowned with 5 helmet-shaped domes, reminiscent of Old Russian warriors, 4 of which are gray, and 5 are cast with gilding.
The temple was built of shell rock and limestone. The interior was rich in various utensils and decorated with salaries of icons. Over its centuries-old history, the cathedral has undergone some changes and reconstructions, but has never been rebuilt. On ancient plaster, you can still read the inscriptions made by parishioners who lived in the 11th-13th centuries.
We should also mention the Korsun Gate, brought by the Novgorodians as a trophy from the Swedish city of Sigtuna. They were made by the German masters of Magdeburg and depict scenes from the Gospel on their bronze plates.
In the tomb of St. Sophia Cathedral lies the wife of Yaroslav the Wise - Princess Anna, as well as the founder of the cathedral, Prince Vladimir (son of Yaroslav the Wise) with his wife. Other members of the princely family and clergymen were buried here.
Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg
Another of the most beautiful temples in Russia - the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg - has been amazing for several generations of people with its splendor. Built according to the project of A. Voronikhin in 1811 on Nevsky Prospekt instead of the small Church of the Nativity.
The cathedral was erected by order of Paul I specifically for the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The temple is distinguished by uncharacteristic architecture for Orthodox churches due to the fact that the Roman Cathedral of Peter and Paul served as its prototype.
The cathedral was built in the Empire style, combined with the shape of the basilica and cross-domed church. The building material was the Pudost stone mined in Gatchina, which resembled the travertine stone facing the Italian temple.
Marble, jasper and Finnish granite were used in the interior decoration. The temple was painted by well-known academic artists and resembles painting on religious topics rather than Russian Orthodox icons.
Kazan Cathedral is an active temple. There are also group excursions for everyone.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow
The Cathedral of Christ the Savior belongs not only to the most beautiful churches and temples in Moscow, but also is the main cathedral of Russia. This is a temple-monument, built in memory of the Patriotic War of 1812.
The construction of the temple lasted from 1839 to 1881. The construction combined Byzantine traditions with the features of Vladimir architecture. The Cathedral is not only the most beautiful church in Russia (photo below), but also the largest - it can accommodate 10 thousand people at the same time.
The facades were covered with plaster and decorated with decorative carvings. The inner lining is made using quartzite, labrador, as well as stones of Italian and Belgian appearance.
In Soviet times, the most beautiful Moscow church was destroyed. It was supposed to build the Palace of Soviets in its place, but these plans were never realized by the communists.
By 1999, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was completely recreated according to surviving plans and drawings. More than half of the temple’s decoration is made up of ornaments, the completion of which required more than 50 kg of gold leaf.
The funeral service of the most significant people of the country is performed in the temple. It is here that bishops' and local cathedrals are regularly held.
Resurrection Cathedral (Istra)
One of the most beautiful temples in the Moscow region - the Resurrection Cathedral - is located in the suburbs, near the city of Istra, on the territory of the New Jerusalem Monastery.
This building is equally unique in its beauty and complexity of execution. The construction of the temple was completed in 1685 and was intended to be an exact copy of the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulcher. But in the end, an exact repetition of the prototype did not work out - the temple only repeats the features of the Jerusalem Church.
The Cathedral consists of the Church of the Resurrection, adjacent to it the chapel of the Holy Sepulcher and the underground church in honor of Konstantin and Elena, deepened into the ground by 6 meters and looked much more ascetic than the main part of the cathedral.
From the point of view of architecture, the building was the only one in all of Russia. Its huge hall with a wide gallery and an unusual tent was filled with sunlight, and the sculptural and colorful decoration of the walls was striking in its splendor.
The massive Romanesque rotunda with lucarnes (a window opening in the roof slope), connected to the tent tower, and the baroque room, saturated with the shine of gold, many paintings and sculptures, made an impression of luxury and solemnity.
In 1941, the monastery complex underwent military destruction. Reconstruction of the most beautiful church in Russia (pictured above) has not yet been fully completed.
Annunciation Cathedral in Kazan
Among the most beautiful churches and temples in Russia, it is impossible not to mention the Kazan Annunciation Cathedral.
In the autumn of 1552, Ivan the Terrible, triumphantly entering conquered Kazan, ordered the construction of the Annunciation Church in the residence of the Tatar khans in honor of the end of the long war between the Russian state and the Kazan Khanate.
The king personally chose the place for the future cathedral, and with his own hand set up a cross to the place where the main altar was to be located.
Initially, the Annunciation Church was built of wood, and 9 years later replaced by a stone. The white-stone five-domed church lit in 1562 was built of Volga limestone, and was 2 times smaller than the current one.
The Annunciation Church has undergone multiple changes in its history. This was due to fires, which in those days were not uncommon, and also because of additional outbuildings. All these construction and restoration works have changed over time the appearance and size of the temple relative to its original appearance.
The narrow windows were replaced by wide ones, the side helmet-shaped chapters were replaced by onion ones, and the central head was made in a pear-shaped shape resembling a Baroque style.
From the sixteenth century, only arcuate belts on the apses and drums of the glaucus, and a pronounced ornament, were preserved. The original frescoes on the inner walls were overwritten with time, and by the end of the 19th century the interiors of the temple were filled with oil painting.
In Soviet times, the fate of one of the most beautiful temples in Russia was predictably tragic. The temple was looted and destroyed after the revolution. In the late 1970s, restoration work began, which stretched over several decades.
The Annunciation Cathedral in Kazan was opened for worship in 2005.
Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg
In St. Petersburg, on the banks of the Neva River, is located one of the most beautiful temples (see photo below) - Smolny Cathedral, recognized as a monument of world significance.
Construction began in 1748 according to the project of the famous architect B. Rastrelli. The temple was built in the Baroque style in combination with elements of Russian architecture, and is located in the very center of the Smolny monastery complex.
By order of Queen Elizabeth, the monastery, which was then called the Sunday Novodevichy, was intended as an educational institution for girls from noble families.
In 1771, B. Rastrelli died, never having seen his creation completed. Further work was continued by architect V. Stasov.
Exterior finish in blue and white. The building seems to be directed to the sky. The creation of Rastrelli, as befits a luxurious baroque, is saturated with fine carvings, drawings, gilding and small artistic details. Thanks to this design, the cathedral on the banks of the Neva looks more like a palace than an Orthodox church.
Stasov, who continued the construction, tried not to deviate from the original plans of the great architect, but the classical style has already been traced in the design of the cathedral. In the interiors, less decorative elements are used, they become more concise and simple in execution.
Smolny Cathedral, like most churches, was closed after the revolution. In the 90s, after a long repair, the Concert and Exhibition Center was opened in the building. Since the beginning of 2010, one of the most beautiful churches and churches in Russia has been open for worship.
Church of the Transfiguration in Kizhi
Among the many names and photos of the most beautiful temples of Russia, the wooden Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which is located on the island of Kizhi of Onega Lake, stands apart.
The fame of this wooden church, built without a single nail, extends far beyond the borders of the Russian state, which makes it a famous tourist attraction.
The Transfiguration Church was built in 1714 and is a masterpiece of carpentry. Unfortunately, the names of the builders remained unknown.
The Kizhi craftsmen chose the octagon as the central figure of the temple. Then, on the sides, ponds were attached to it. Thus, the figure of the church resembles a cross. The walls themselves are felled in a “round” - a method in which each log is placed in a recess made in the underlying log.
The main material for the construction was pine. There are some elements of birch and aspen.
The church has 22 chapters, changing shape and size from tier to tier and creating a pronounced pyramidal silhouette.
The interior of the temple over the centuries has undergone great changes. Being constantly updated due to dilapidation, the interior of the church is currently significantly different from its original appearance.
In the 80s, the temple building was declared emergency. To strengthen the walls, all utensils were taken out of the building, and the iconostasis was dismantled. Many wooden structures were broken, a metal frame was installed.
From May to September, Kizhi island is open for tourists. Unfortunately, the Transfiguration Church is still being restored and services are being conducted in the neighboring Pokrovsky temple.
Holy Trinity Lavra in Sergiev Posad
The most revered Orthodox shrine of Russia is the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra. It was founded by Sergius of Radonezh in 1337 on the Makovets hill. On its territory there are several of the most beautiful churches and temples in Russia, each of which has its own interesting history.
Trinity Cathedral is the first temple of the Lavra monastery ensemble. It was for him that Andrei Rublev wrote his famous Trinity. The church was erected in 1423 and on the outside is a rather ascetic building. On the walls of the cathedral, original frescoes are still preserved.
The relics of its founder, Sergius of Radonezh, are stored in the temple.
In 1585, on the territory of the monastery, on the site of the dilapidated monastic cells, the Assumption Cathedral was built. The temple was erected by personal order of Ivan the Terrible, as well as many temples of that time, in honor of the capture of the Kazan Khanate. The five-headed brick building is the largest and most monumental in the monastery.
In 1637, a tent church of the Monks Zosima and Savvatiy Solovetsky was erected on the western side of the monastery, which was assigned to the hospital wards of the monastery. The expressive design of the facade with tiles makes the church one of the most interesting monuments of the XVII century.
Also, the Refectory Church is considered one of the largest and most magnificent in the Lavra ensemble. It is unique for its colorful painting, carving of columns, parapet with a series of sculptural shells.
The church was built in 1692 in the fashionable style of the time - Baroque. The building is built on a large slope and erected to the basement, which makes it seem elevated above the ground.
Above the entire monastery monastery there is an 88-meter bell tower, made in a combination of white and turquoise, built in 1770. Especially for her, the Tula master I. Kobylin made watches with chimes that worked continuously for 120 years, later were replaced by newer ones.
With the advent of the four-tier bell tower in the monastery, the monastery ensemble received its logical completion. After large-scale reconstruction and newly cast bells, the belfry is in its pristine splendor.