The Moscow Kremlin is the most valuable architectural ensemble not only in Russia, but throughout Europe. It is located on the banks of the Moskva River, in the very center of the Russian capital. The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is called the Assumption. It will be discussed about him in our article.
Assumption Cathedral - the main cathedral of the Kremlin
In any country, they try to carefully preserve monuments that have historical and cultural significance. Many of them are still functioning today. The Assumption Church, the main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, is no exception.
As early as 1326, the first stone building of the magnificent cathedral was erected on Moscow Square. The construction was carried out under the supervision of Metropolitan St. Peter on the orders of Prince John Kalita. There is a version that at the foundation site there was previously a wooden church.
What is the main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and what does it look like today? About it - further.
Bookmark and construction of the shrine
The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is called the Assumption. The construction of this temple was a significant event, because Moscow was proclaimed the throne of the city. According to historical records and memoirs of clergymen, it becomes known that the Assumption Cathedral is the first stone church on the territory of Moscow, which became the main church of Russia, thereby taking a step above the Vladimir Church.
In 1327, when construction was completed and services began to be held in the cathedral, Metropolitan Peter left this sinful world and rested in the church building on the north side. The burial place is near the altar.
Temple rebuilding
Thus, the Assumption Church became the main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Already in the second half of the 15th century, Ivan Vasilievich, the Russian prince, who controlled all the principalities, started the restructuring of the Assumption Cathedral, thereby creating a new residence.
By 1472, the analysis of the temple was completed. The well-known architects Myshkin and Krivtsov were invited to build a new, more magnificent building of the cathedral. But the temple was not destined to stand for a long time, and it collapsed. The construction did not end there, although a similar case could have led to some thoughts. The prince attracts the best Italian architect Aristotle Fiorovanti to work .
The construction of the new building lasted four years, while drawings of the Vladimir Cathedral were used. And already in 1479, one of the greatest monuments of Christianity was erected on Moscow Square, which became the decoration of the Kremlin. The consecration of the temple, and this procedure is simply necessary for such buildings, was undertaken by the new metropolitan - Gerontius of Moscow, after which the relics of Peter were returned to the temple in memory of the first saint.
But even after this, the temple was not left alone, and destruction continued to pursue it. In 1812, when the Patriotic War was in full swing, the cathedral was thoroughly plundered by Napoleon’s soldiers. Partially, it was possible to return the stolen back, and a chandelier was made of silver, which adorned the center of the temple.
The fate of the shrine in the XIX-XX centuries
The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is the greatest architectural monument of European scale. However, time did not spare this building; over time, it began to gradually collapse.
In the second half of the XIX - the first half of the XX century, restoration work began. First of all, specialists began to restore the altar zone, as a result of which frescoes dating from the XV-XVI centuries were discovered. The restoration of the building was carried out over several decades and in 1906 was completed.
In 1917, after the sad events of the October Revolution, the cathedral was turned into a museum, which acquired the appearance of an ensemble, which was characterized by the complete preservation of the interior. At that time, all the murals and icons were open to the public. In Soviet times, they did not do restoration work in the Assumption Cathedral. And since 1990, chants sounded in the walls of the church, and worship services resumed.
The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin: architecture features
The involved Italian architect fully reproduced the image of the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral. That is, the structure was a cross-domed church, but in turn, the architect made some adjustments that significantly removed it from the prototype. The cathedral was built of white stone and was a monolithic structure. Chroniclers described the temple as a “single stone," from which loomed a magnificent church.
The temple was pompous, solemn and spacious, its vault was supported by round pillars. The building was created so spacious that it looked more like a palace hall. Even by today's standards, the Assumption Cathedral on Kremlin Square is considered a most valuable building, and the execution style is painstaking and complicated. It is worth noting that almost all the churches of Russia were built in the image of the cathedral in Moscow until the 17th century.
Description of the external appearance of the structure
As mentioned above, the main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is a monolithic structure, which is divided by rounded pillar columns into 12 squares of the same size.
On the smooth external walls of the temple, only an arkatura belt stands out, as well as narrow elongated windows. The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is five-domed. From the south and north the apse of the building is covered with pylons.
The interior of the cathedral: murals and murals
The interior arrangement was also carried out by the best craftsmen of that time. The work was simply magnificent and breathtaking, and even today some fragments remained on the altar barrier. The oldest frescoes dating from 1481 depict ascetic monks. In addition, the fresco “Forty Sebastian Martyrs”, the famous “Adoration of the Magi” and other works of fine art are of great historical significance.
The following paintings found date back to 1513-1515 years. If you look at the arch of the temple, you can see the image of the sky, supported by pillars with martyrs applied to them. This combination is filled with symbolism, because as the pillars hold the vault, so the martyrs maintain faith in Christ.
The general layout of the murals of the Assumption Cathedral was carefully thought out and built. In addition, the most striking images are the images on the lower tier of the walls of the cathedral of seven Ecumenical churches. And, according to tradition, the western wall is decorated with the composition “The Last Judgment”.
Finally...
The main cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin is the Assumption - a magnificent architectural monument of the XIV-XV centuries. The temple impresses many tourists and travelers not only with its architecture, but also with its wonderful, unique interior decoration.