Moscow. Cathedrals and churches

The capital of the Russian state has long been the center of Orthodoxy. Every important and significant event in the history of the country was marked by the construction of churches, churches and chapels. In the years of wars and Soviet atheism, many temples were destroyed, but those that have survived to this day are an adornment of the capital. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists flock here to admire the mastery of architects and worship shrines.

Moscow, whose cathedrals are the visiting card of the city, became the capital of Orthodoxy.

Patriarchal Cathedral

In Moscow for the whole history of built a lot of cathedrals. Many of them operate today, others are monuments of architecture or museums. The main temple of the country is the Patriarchal Cathedral. In the Soviet years, this honor was vested in different churches. Now it is the Assumption Cathedral, which was erected in 1475 by the architect Aristotle Fioravanti. It was built on the site of an older church, which was laid by Ivan Kalita. That is, in this place the church was from the very foundation of the city of Moscow. The cathedrals here were built and will cost. For four centuries, Uspensky was the main temple of Russia. In it, they married the tsar's kingdom, metropolitans were elected and other important historical events were held. The cathedral was repeatedly subjected to looting and destruction and even was closed for a long time. At the end of the 20th century, he was returned to the Orthodox Church. Here are kept the great shrines: the Nail of the Lord, miraculous icons, the relics of the saints of Moscow.

Epiphany Cathedral of Elokhov

It is located in the Basmanny district of Moscow. It was built in 1845 on the site of an old wooden church, which was baptized after the birth of the future poet Alexander Pushkin. Because of the increased number of parishioners, a small church could not accommodate all worshipers, and a majestic five-domed church was erected. Elokhovsky Cathedral is famous for its never being closed, even in the years of Soviet power.

Repeatedly the decision was made to close the temple, but there were obstacles to it every time. Thus, a decree was issued to close the church on June 22, 1941 right after the liturgy. But the war began, and the patriarch from the pulpit urged the parishioners to defend their homeland. After that, the issue of closure was no longer raised.

Elokhovsky Cathedral until 1991 was the patriarch. Now it's a cathedral. Many bishops and patriarchs are buried in it. Among them is Patriarch Alexy II.

St Basil's Church

One of the visiting cards of the capital, and indeed of all Russia, is the St. Basil's Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow. This amazing in beauty and grace temple is a pearl in the Orthodox treasury.

The church was erected in honor of the victory over the Tatars Ivan the Terrible in 1555. On the Red Square in those days was the Trinity Church. After each victory, a new tree was built next to it, consecrated in honor of that saint, on whose day the victory took place.

After the triumphant return of the troops, the king ordered to build on this place a grandiose structure of stone and brick, the most beautiful thing the world had ever seen. The construction of the Intercession on the ditch was completed in 1561. And in 1588 there was added an extension in honor of St. Basil the Blessed, and the whole complex began to be called among the people just like that.

More than once throughout history, the temple was on the verge of destruction, but it was nevertheless preserved and restored. Until 1991 he worked exclusively as a museum, and now he is in joint use of the historical museum and church.

The Intercession Cathedral is an ensemble of eight separate churches, each of which is crowned with a dome. All of them are built around the central - Pokrovskaya. In total, the domes are eleven. From the height of this temple is an eight-pointed star - the Orthodox symbol of the Virgin.

Catholic temple

In a city like Moscow, cathedrals were erected by representatives of other faiths. Long ago there lived not only Orthodox, but also representatives of other concessions. The largest Catholic church in Russia is also located here - it is the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Moscow).

It was built at the request of Catholics at the beginning of the last century. The permission was given on the condition that the new church would not be Gothic and would be built away from Orthodox shrines. The architect was Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky, the building was designed for 5,000 parishioners. During the years of Soviet power, this sacred place was closed, and only at the end of the 20th century the churches were returned. Now it's a cathedral.

Moscow is famous for its architecture. Cathedrals and churches, amazing in their beauty, please the eyes of random passers-by and are a place of pilgrimage for believers.