Saint Basil's Cathedral
In the autumn of 1554, Tsar Ivan IV issued a command to build a wooden Church of Intercession on the moat. This structure stood next to the existing Trinity Church in Red Square. By 1555, Ivan ordered a new stone cathedral to replace the wooden memorial churches that had marked his victories over Kazan and Astrakhan. The site was once a busy marketplace between the St. Frol's Gate and the posad. Placing this church outside the Kremlin walls served as a political statement favoring commoners against hereditary boyars. Contemporary records identify the building as Trinity Church after its easternmost sanctuary. The status of kathedron or large assembly church had not yet been bestowed upon it. The identity of the architect remains unknown to historians today. Tradition claims two architects named Barma and Postnik Yakovlev worked on the project. Some researchers suggest these names refer to the same person, either Postnik Yakovlev or Ivan Yakovlevich Barma. Evidence indicates stonemasons from Pskov and German lands participated in the construction. The cathedral was completed with its colors in 1683.
The original Trinity Church burned down in 1583 and required refitting by 1593. A ninth sanctuary dedicated to Basil Fool for Christ appeared in 1588 next to the north-eastern sanctuary of the Three Patriarchs. Another local fool named Ivan the Blessed received burial on the grounds in 1589. A sanctuary in his memory emerged inside the south-eastern arcade in 1672. The second major round of expansion occurred between 1680 and 1683. This period transformed nine independent churches into a monolithic temple through profound additions to the ground-floor arcade. Formerly open ground-floor arcades filled with brick walls housed altars from thirteen former wooden churches. Wooden shelters above the first-floor platform rebuilt in brick created present-day wrap-around galleries with tented roofs. The old detached belfry demolished during this era saw its square basement reused for a new belltower. A tall single tented roof added strong asymmetrical counterweight to the church itself. The effect remains most pronounced on the southern and eastern facades as viewed from Zaryadye. In 1683, the church adorned itself with a tiled cornice in yellow and blue featuring written history in Old Slavic typeface.
Legend claims Tsar Ivan blinded the architect so he could not re-create the masterpiece elsewhere. Jerome Horsey recorded an account of Ivan III blinding the architect of Ivangorod fortress which likely originated this myth. Many historians believe the story is false because Postnik Yakovlev remained active throughout the 1560s. He participated in constructing the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow alongside building walls and towers of the Kazan Kremlin. List of federally protected buildings names Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryay as builders of the new Kazan Kremlin between 1555 and 1568. Contemporary commentators clearly identified the new building as Trinity Church after its easternmost sanctuary. The status of kathedron had not been bestowed upon it yet. The identity of the architect remains unknown despite these historical records. Tradition held that two architects named Barma and Postnik worked together on the project. Researchers proposed both names refer to the same person either Postnik Yakovlev or Ivan Yakovlevich Barma. The myth persists despite evidence showing the architect continued working for decades after completion.
During World War I, protoiereus Ioann Vostorgov headed the church before his arrest by Bolsheviks in 1918. He was executed in 1919 following accusations of embezzling nationalized church properties. In 1923 the building became a public museum though religious services continued until 1929. Bolshevik planners entertained ideas of demolishing the church after Lenin's funeral in January 1924. Joseph Stalin's urbanist plans carried out by Moscow party boss Lazar Kaganovich viewed the church as an obstacle during the first half of the 1930s. Preservationists notably Pyotr Baranovsky opposed the administration until at least 1936. A frequently-told story describes Kaganovich picking up a model of the church while envisioning Red Square without it. Stalin reportedly responded sharply telling him to put it back. Stalin's master planner Vladimir Semyonov allegedly grabbed Stalin's elbow when the leader picked up the model to see how Red Square would look without it. He was replaced by pure functionary Sergey Chernyshov. In autumn 1933 the church struck from the heritage register and Baranovsky arrested for objections. By 1937 even hard-line Bolshevik planners admitted the church should be spared.
Paintings of Red Square by Fyodor Alekseyev made between 1800 and 1802 show the church enclosed in chaotic commercial buildings. Rows of shops transformed Red Square into an oblong closed yard. The moat fed with waters of Neglinnaya River built in 1508-16 filled in preparation for Alexander I coronation in 1801. Minor repairs continued until 1848 when domes acquired present-day colors. Preservationist societies monitored state throughout 1880s and 1890s but funding delays persisted. National authorities denied financing from state and municipal budgets despite public campaigning raising around 100,000 roubles. Restoration began replacing roofing of domes after Solovyov removed tin roofing installed in 1810s. Protracted debate led to whole set of tiles on tented roof replaced with new ones. Another decision allowed use of standard bricks smaller than original 16th-century ones. Restorers chose combination of deep red with deep green retained to present day. In 1908 church received first warm air heating system which did not work well due to heat losses. In 1913 complemented with pumped water heating system serving rest of church. Last round renovation completed September 2008 opening restored sanctuary of St. Alexander Svirsky.
Tradition calls Kremlin center of Moscow but geometric center Garden Ring lies outside Kremlin wall coincident with cathedral. Pyotr Goldenberg popularized notion in 1947 regarding radial-concentric system starting from Kremlin. Gennady Mokeev born 1932 formulated different concept historical growth of Moscow in 1960s. Medieval Moscow grew primarily north-easterly direction into posad of Kitai-gorod beyond natural boundaries Moskva and Neglinnaya Rivers. Main road connecting Kremlin to Kitai-gorod passed through St. Frol's Gate then fanned out into at least two radial streets. Tsar Ivan decision build church next to St. Frol's Gate established dominance eastern hub major vertical accent. Cathedral inserted pivot point between nearly equal Kremlin and Kitai-gorod once amorphous marketplace. It was main church posad perceived as part Kremlin thrust into posad personal messenger Tsar reaching masses without mediation boyars clergy. Complement nearby Lobnoye mesto rostrum Tsar public announcements first mentioned chronicles 1547 rebuilt stone 1597-1598. Conrad Bussow described triumph False Dmitriy I the 3rd of June 1606 when few thousand men followed boyarin letter whole Moscow main church call Jerusalem stands right next Kremlin gates raised him Lobnoye Mesto called Muscovites read letter listened boyarin oral explanation.
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Common questions
When was Saint Basil's Cathedral built and completed?
Construction of the stone cathedral began in 1555 to replace wooden memorial churches. The building received its final colors and tiled cornice in 1683 after a major expansion phase between 1680 and 1683.
Who designed Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow?
The identity of the architect remains unknown to historians despite tradition naming Barma and Postnik Yakovlev as builders. Some researchers suggest these names refer to the same person, either Postnik Yakovlev or Ivan Yakovlevich Barma.
What is the original name of Saint Basil's Cathedral?
Contemporary records identify the building as Trinity Church after its easternmost sanctuary. The status of kathedron or large assembly church had not yet been bestowed upon it at the time of completion.
Did Tsar Ivan IV blind the architect of Saint Basil's Cathedral?
Many historians believe the story is false because Postnik Yakovlev remained active throughout the 1560s. He participated in constructing the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow alongside building walls and towers of the Kazan Kremlin.
When did Saint Basil's Cathedral become a public museum?
In 1923 the building became a public museum though religious services continued until 1929. Bolshevik planners entertained ideas of demolishing the church after Lenin's funeral in January 1924 but eventually spared it by 1937.