Return of the Kremlin shrines. Moscow Kremlin Spasskaya (Frolovskaya) Tower

It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful buildings of the entire ensemble, and tourists from all over the world do not get tired of admiring its beauty and capturing it in millions of pictures.

The Spasskaya Tower, whose history dates back to the end of the 15th century, was built simultaneously with it. Initially, it was called Frolovskaya. These two strongholds were needed on the northwestern side of the Kremlin for the simple reason that there were no natural barriers there. I must say that before this place was the main gate of the entire ensemble.

In past centuries, the tower above the main gates of the city's heart amazed visitors with its proportions, grace and harmony, exquisite white stone decorations of the facades - turrets, carved columns, columns, figures of fictitious animals. At the corners of the quadrangle were pyramids crowned with gilded weathercocks.

I must say that until the 17th century, the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin was decorated with white stone reliefs, had double walls made of unique large-sized bricks. Between these walls was a staircase that connected all five tiers of the tower. As for the gates of the stronghold, they were defended with the help of a diversion archer, connected to the tower by a wooden bridge, and two side bastions.

The people even considered the Nikolskaya and Frolovskaya towers of the Kremlin not only important, but almost sacred. So, for example, it was impossible to ride a horse through them or walk without a headdress. It was through these structures that the kings, ambassadors, as well as the regiments that were sent on a campaign, left the city and entered it. Above the gates themselves - from the inside and outside - inscriptions were made on a white stone outlining the history of the building, and each inscription was also duplicated in Latin.

From the middle of the 17th century, the superstructure of the Kremlin towers began. The Kremlin - the main one - has become even more harmonious and impressive. The Frolovskaya Tower was especially in harmony with the one that was built in the middle of the 16th century - to commemorate the glorious victory of Ivan the Terrible over the Kazan Khanate. Over time, an imperial coat of arms was installed on the tent of the Frolovskaya Tower - a double-headed eagle, and then the same coats of arms were fixed on Nikolskaya, Borovitskaya and

The Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin received its name in April 1658, when a royal decree was signed, renaming all the Kremlin strongholds. This is how the Frolovskaya Tower turned into the Spasskaya. The name appeared because of the icon of the Savior of Smolensk, which was placed above the gates of the tower, overlooking and also fixed above the passage from the Kremlin.

In the upper part of the tower - in its tent part, which was designed and built by the craftsman Bazhen Ogurtsov - they placed the main clock of the entire state. Later, already under Peter the Great, they were replaced by a huge Dutch clock, equipped with music and decorated with a twelve-hour dial. However, they were ruined by a fire in 1737. Modern chimes, for which the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin is so famous today, were installed in 1851 by the Butenop brothers. Later they were modernized and restored.

The beauty and uniqueness of the Spasskaya Tower make it the main decoration of the ensemble of the entire Kremlin.

The Spasskaya Tower is an integral part of Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin. The tower is the main entrance to the Kremlin, due to which it has gained great popularity among Russians and tourists from different countries. Almost everyone who has visited Red Square has in his archive a photo against the backdrop of the tower. This majestic building attracts the attention of all passers-by. And it makes you raise your head and admire the majestic building.

The Spasskaya Tower was founded and subsequently built in 1491 according to a project commissioned from the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. The tower became the first and main defensive structure of the eastern wall. Initially, the tower was called Frolovska because of its proximity to the Church of St. Frol. Subsequently, in 1658, it was renamed Spasskaya by order of the sovereign. The reason for the renaming was the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. Which was installed on the towers. Unfortunately, the icon has not survived to this day, but the place where it stood remains visible to this day.

Kremlin tower

Description of the building

Tower reconstruction

The Spasskaya Tower has been rebuilt and completed (reconstructed) more than once throughout its history. In the seventeenth century, the tower received a new look. Due to the built-on stone tent. The superstructure was designed and built under the supervision of architects Galoev and Ogurtsov. At the top of the tower was a high spire with two main eagles. Symbol Russian Empire. In 1935, the eagle was removed from its spire and replaced with a red five-pointed star. In 1937, the star was replaced again by another larger star. Also, the star got the opportunity to rotate from wind currents.

An interesting case from the story "Napoleon and the Tower"

When Napoleon was in charge in Moscow. He destroyed many historical and significant buildings. And when he broke into the destruction of the Kremlin, the defenders managed to recapture the Spasskaya Tower and keep it in its original form.

The Spasskaya Tower is the Kremlin tower and is located between the Senate and Tsarskaya towers. If you are in Moscow, be sure to visit the famous tower. Also, if you liked the article, be sure to leave your feedback in the comments or subscribe to one of our channels. And get the latest articles and photos to them.

Historically, the Moscow Kremlin was not only the secular, but also the spiritual center of the Russian state, being the center of church administration and the most revered shrines among the people - relics, icons and temples. Most often, the names of the Kremlin towers are associated with the icons that were located on them. The Spasskaya Tower got its name from the icon of the Savior (Savior of Smolensk); Above the gates of the Nikolskaya Tower there was an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Structurally distinguished elements resembling icon cases can be seen from the outside of the Spasskaya, Nikolskaya, Kutafya, Troitskaya, Konstantin-Eleninskaya towers, as well as from inside Spasskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya towers.

Before the revolution, the icons on the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya towers were especially revered by the people.

The Spassky Gates were the main of all the Kremlin gates and have always been revered as saints. In ancient times, these gates were called Frolovsky or Frololavrsky, after the church of Frol and Laurus located nearby. Sometimes the gates were called Jerusalem, because on Palm Sunday, through them, procession depicting the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. The decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of April 16, 1658 assigned to them the name Spassky in the image of the Savior of Smolensk, as well as the Church of the Savior, which existed at the Moskvoretsky Gates until the end of the 18th century.

It was impossible to pass through the Spassky Gates on horseback, and the men passing through them had to take off their hats in front of the image of the Savior, placed on the outside of the tower and illuminated by an inextinguishable lamp. This folk custom was fixed by royal decree in 1658; the execution of the decree was monitored by special watchmen - collars and archers.

From the sacred gates, regiments went to battle, and foreign ambassadors were met here. On November 1, 1612, it was through the gates of the Nikolskaya and Spasskaya towers that the people's militia led by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin solemnly entered the Kremlin. All religious processions from the Kremlin went through the Spassky Gates, all the rulers of Russia, starting with Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, solemnly passed through them before the coronation.

The last mention of the icons on the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya towers dates back to the 30s of the 20th century, when a decision was made to conserve the images - hiding them under a plastered mesh.

For a long time it was believed that all the icons that were located on the Kremlin towers were completely lost. The issue of returning icons to the Kremlin towers has been raised by the Russian public more than once. In 2007, he took the initiative to restore the over-gate icons on the towers of the Moscow Kremlin. The initiative was supported by the President Russian Federation and received the blessing of the ever-memorable.

For a preliminary study of the issue, a special initiative group was created at the Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called, which was headed by the President of Russian Railways, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for National Glory and the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation. The group also included the director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation E.A. Murov, Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation S.D. Khlebnikov, Executive Director of the President of the Russian Federation V.I. Kozhin, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Compliance with Legislation in the Field of Security cultural heritage(Rosokhrakultura) A.V. Kibovsky, CEO Museums of the Moscow Kremlin E.Yu. Gagarin, President of the Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called S.E. Shcheblygin, First Vice-President of the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation, Head working group project M.I. Yakushev.

Members of the initiative group suggested that the icons on the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya towers were preserved in icon cases under a layer of plaster.

On August 24, a meeting of the commission for the restoration of the over-gate icons of the Moscow Kremlin took place, at which the work on the restoration of the over-gate icon on the Spasskaya Tower was recognized as completed.

November 4, 2010, on the feast of the Kazan Icon Mother of God and National Unity Day, at the end of the Divine Liturgy in the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia of the restored gate icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaysky on the St. Nicholas Tower.

In the future it is planned to continue research work regarding the possibility of restoring icons on other towers of the Kremlin.

Icon of Christ the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

The gate image of Christ the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin is an iconographic type of the Savior of Smolensk. The Savior is depicted standing. With his right hand he blesses, in his left he holds the gospel, opened in words: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Kneeling saints fall at the feet of the Savior: St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Barlaam of Khutyn. Technique: tempera painting. Icon size: 2.2 x 1.5 meters. The paint layers that exist now are attributed by restorers to the first half - the middle of the 17th century; The icon was updated in 1738 and 1868.

The appearance of the icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. It is believed that the first image was painted in 1514 in gratitude for the capture of Smolensk. According to legend, during the invasion of Khan Mehmet Giray in 1521, the elderly old woman of the Ascension Monastery, located in the Kremlin, had a vision in which, through the prayers of St. Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam Khutynsky, Moscow was delivered from devastation by the Gentiles. This legend is associated with the appearance of the images of St. Sergius and Varlaam at the feet of the Savior on the icon.

One of the first descriptions of the Spassky image is contained in Paul of Aleppo, who accompanied Patriarch Macarius of Antioch on his journey to Russia in 1654-1656: and the top is velvet, also with gold. This image is called Spas, i.e. Savior, Smolensky.

Since ancient times, the icon had great veneration among the people and was considered miraculous.

In the 19th century, chapels were located on both sides of the Spassky Gates. One of them contained a copy of the over-gate image of the Savior, which was also revered by pilgrims. In front of the icon of the Savior, lampadas were constantly burning and prayers were served daily.

A special celebration of the image of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower took place on August 1, according to the old style (August 14, according to the new style).

Icon of St. Nicholas on the Nikolskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

The icon of St. Nicholas ("Nikola Mozhaisky") on the Nikolskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin dates back to the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th century.

During the battles in October 1917, the over-gate image of the saint was riddled with bullets and shrapnel, but the face itself was not damaged, which was perceived by believing Muscovites as a miracle. In the lectures of the famous art critic I.E. Grabar, there is a mention that after the shelling of the icon, restoration of the image was undertaken, during which later layers of paint were removed and a fresco dating back to the end of the 15th or the beginning of the 16th century was discovered.

At the end of April 1918, before the first official celebration of May Day, the façade, including the icon, was completely draped with red calico, but on the eve of the proletarian holiday, strong gusts of wind, twisting the panels, freed the view of the image. On May 9/22, 1918, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square, after which he led the procession to the Nikolsky Gates, where a solemn prayer service was held to St. Nicholas in front of his image above the gate.

Patriarchy.ru

The Spasskaya Tower in Moscow is an outstanding monument of architecture and history of the late 15th century, an object of state and international importance, is part of the historical ensemble of the Kremlin (north-eastern wall), facing Red Square - opposite the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. This is the most famous tower of the Kremlin, it houses the famous metropolitan chimes, and the top is decorated with five pointed star.

The historical name of the tower is Frolovskaya, since the road through its gate led to the church of Frol and Lavr that existed at that time.

Gates of the Spasskaya Tower - the current main entrance to the Kremlin.

History of the Spasskaya Tower

The Moscow Spasskaya Tower was erected in 1491 under the Grand Duke Ivan III Vasilievich on the site of the archer, known as Frolovskaya. At this time, at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the brick Moscow Kremlin was being built up in a complex; the walls and most of the towers of that period form the appearance of the Kremlin today.

The architect of the Spasskaya Tower (at that time - Frolovskaya) was Pyotr Fryazin (Pietro Antonio Solari). The construction of the Spasskaya Tower in Moscow was carried out in the same style as other Kremlin buildings created with the participation of Italian masters.

The wooden bridge from the tower across the Alevizov moat was built by 1508.

The history of the icons on the Spasskaya Tower in Moscow began in 1514: with the placement of the image of the Savior of Smolensk above the gate. In 1521, the icon was replaced by a fresco of the Savior of Smolensk painted on the gate wall facing Red Square.

In the 16th century, the Spasskaya Tower was decorated with a wooden double-headed eagle. In 1624-1625, the decorative appearance of the tower was changed by the English architect Christopher Galovey together with the Russian architect Bazhen Ogurtsov: a multi-tiered Gothic top was built, which included sculptures in the style of Mannerism, which spread in Western Europe. Fantastic nude figures entered history from this design (note that this is not the 16th, but the 17th century), which existed until 1628. AT tsarist Russia the nakedness of these sculptures was even covered with robes sewn for them, but they were removed from the tower not for national aesthetic reasons, but after a fire in which they were badly damaged.

Officially, the gates were named Spassky much later - during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who signed the corresponding decree on renaming in 1658. Under him, above the gate on the Kremlin side, a list from the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands was fixed.

In the Spasskaya Tower until the 17th century, there were preserved historical reliefs of the archer, made of white stone - like most of the previous buildings of the Kremlin.

In the middle of the 17th century, the state symbol, the double-headed eagle, reasserted itself on the top of the Spasskaya Tower. After that, other large towers of the Kremlin - Nikolskaya, Troitskaya and Borovitskaya - were similarly decorated.

Historically, on both sides of the tower gates, there were the active chapels of St. Basil's Cathedral - Smolenskaya and Spasskaya, built in stone in 1802. In 1812, the chapels were destroyed during the retreat of the Napoleonic troops. The tower itself miraculously survived - the explosion was prevented Don Cossacks who extinguished the wicks in time. The chapels were rebuilt according to a completely different project. They were rebuilt again in 1868 during the comprehensive restoration of the Spasskaya Tower. The demolition of the chapels without restoration took place in 1925.

In 1895, the gate fresco of the Savior of Smolensk was restored. In the Soviet years, this image turned out to be lost (no written evidence of its fate has been preserved), like the list from the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, and was considered as such until 2010. The image was discovered under a layer of plaster, preserved by about 80% - cleaned and restored by restorers. The over-gate kiot from the side of the Kremlin, where the “Savior Not Made by Hands” used to be located, is now empty.

Large-scale restoration work inside and outside the tower was carried out in 1999, the last time in 2014.

Gate of the Spasskaya Tower

The Spassky Gates were always revered as sacred, as well as the main of all the gates of the Kremlin towers.

It was from these gates that military regiments left Moscow, the route of religious processions from the Kremlin certainly ran through the gate, and through them foreign ambassadors entered to meet with the monarch. The Spassky Gates are still used for the front entrance.

Interestingly, historically, it was not allowed to enter on horseback through the gates of the Spasskaya Tower. In addition, until the 19th century, men were supposed to take off their hats in front of the Savior, consecrated by an icon lamp, located on outer wall towers, in front of the entrance.

Clock on the Spasskaya Tower

The diameter of the chimes is 6.12 m, the height of the gilded Roman numerals on the tower dial is 0.72 m. The length of the minute hand of the clock on the Spasskaya Tower is 3.27 m, the hour hand is 2.97 m. dial - the chimes are clearly visible from afar and from different angles.

The chimes on the Spasskaya Tower, immortalized in art more than once, first started working in the 16th century, which is confirmed by historical evidence of the work of the Kremlin watchmakers. Over the past centuries, the main clock of the Kremlin has changed several times.

So, it is known that in 1625 the clock on the Spasskaya Tower was replaced: the old one was acquired by the Spaso-Yaroslavsky Monastery, and the new ones were put on the tower with the participation of Christopher Galoway. An improved and very original model of a mechanical watch could play music, indicate the night and daytime, the dial was rotating, and the hand in the form of a sun with a long beam was static. The clock was located on two sides of the tower: the first dial was turned to the Kremlin, the second - to Kitay-gorod. The first unusual clock did not last long: Galoway had to restore it after a fire in 1626, the next repair was made in 1668.

In 1705, Peter the Great ordered to install a Dutch clock on the tower with a dial converted to the German standard. These chimes were also musical, but they often broke down and could not survive the fire of 1737.

The English chimes from the Faceted Chamber were attached to the tower by 1770. The work was supervised by the German master Fatz, and at his will the chimes were tuned to play the German song "Ah, my dear Augustine." In the entire history of the Kremlin chimes, this is the only period when they played foreign music. The clock was damaged in a fire in 1812. Master Yakov Lebedev managed to repair them by 1815.

Modern chimes of the Spasskaya Tower were made by March 1852. By the time wear and tear English hours defined as critical. The creation of the most important clock mechanism of the Kremlin was entrusted to the factory of the Budenopov brothers. The work has been carried out since December 1850, while it was possible to use part of the old mechanism and apply modern achievements in watchmaking. The oak watch case has been replaced with cast iron, and the mechanical parts are made of wear-resistant alloys, designed to withstand temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The chiming of the chimes provided a playing shaft, from which ropes were stretched to 48 bells. Melodies were soon chosen: this is the “March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment” at 6 and 12 o’clock, the anthem “How glorious is our Lord in Zion” at 3 and 9. This music sounded from the Spasskaya Tower before the 1917 revolution.

During the storming of the Kremlin by the Bolsheviks on November 2, 1917, a shell broke the clock hand, and the clock did not work until September 1918. The mechanism was restored by the watchmaker N. Berens at the direction of V. I. Lenin. Since 1937, the clock has been driven by three electric motors. Until 1938, the bells of the chimes sang revolutionary hymns (“The Internationale”, “You fell a victim ...”), in next years there was only a chime at the hours and quarters.

During the inauguration of B. N. Yeltsin in 1996, the Spassky chimes played a melody, since that time at 12 and 6 o’clock they played the “Patriotic Song”, and at 3 and 9 o’clock the melody “Glory” by M. I. Glinka.

In 1999, a major restoration of the clock was carried out - with the restoration of the appearance of the upper tier, the hands and numbers were covered with gold. By the end of the year, the melody of the national anthem of the Russian Federation was tuned (instead of the "Patriotic Song").

Star on the Spasskaya Tower

Before the star, the tower was crowned with a double-headed eagle: from the 17th century until 1935. For various reasons, the eagle had to be updated several times.

The Soviet five-pointed star with a hammer and sickle, designed by Fyodor Fedorovsky, was installed on the Spasskaya and other towers of the Kremlin in August 1935. These first stars were made of stainless steel and red copper, the image of the hammer and sickle was made of Ural gems and covered with gold. Another decoration of the star is the rays that diverged from the center to the tops.

In practice, semi-precious copper-steel stars proved to be an unfortunate solution: they quickly faded, so in less than two years it was necessary to replace them. However, the first Spassky Star, unlike many of its contemporaries, has been preserved; now it crowns the spire of the capital's Northern River Station.

The luminous ruby ​​star on the Spasskaya Tower lit up on November 2, 1937. Star with a span of rays of 3.75 meters - two-layer, with a frame made of stainless steel: the inner layer is made of glass milky, outer - from ruby. Autonomous lamps are protected from overheating, replaced by modern ones during a comprehensive restoration in 2014.

With the collapse of the USSR, the question of returning the double-headed eagle to the tower was repeatedly raised, and it still remains open.

Spasskaya Tower Festival in Moscow

The International Military Music Festival, named after the Spasskaya Tower, has been held in Moscow since 2006. Time: end of August - beginning of September, before the City Day. The duration of the festival changes every year. Tickets for the festival are sold by the day, the first and last ones are more expensive.

Military bands take part in this major festival, units of the honorary guards of the first persons of the countries, folklore music and dance groups in national costumes perform.

The main event of the festival is a large-scale concert on Red Square, in front of the Spasskaya Tower. It is at this concert that you can see the best performances of military musical groups from Russia, the CIS countries, Europe, East and Southeast Asia.

How to get to the Spasskaya Tower in Moscow

A close view of the Spasskaya Tower, open to tourists, opens from Red Square, since access to the tower is not included in standard tours of the Kremlin Museum-Reserve. Accordingly, it is desirable to get to Red Square, and not to the entrance to the Kremlin through the Trinity Tower.

Most fast way get to the Spasskaya Tower overlooking Red Square - by metro to the Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya or Ploshchad Revolyutsii stations. These stations are part of one subway transfer hub, so you should choose the nearest exit - No. 7 of Okhotny Ryad, from it to the foot of the tower - less than 500 meters on foot.

By bus, you need to get to the stop "Red Square" along Varvarka Street. Suitable flights number 158, m5.

The Spasskaya clock tower is clearly visible and recognizable from afar, but we still recommend checking the layout of the Kremlin towers:

A convenient option for those who want to learn as much as possible about the history of the Spasskaya Tower and at the same time not lose sight of other sights is the Spasskaya Tower Overview with a tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. Suggestions from guides - on the project.

Panorama "Spasskaya Tower" on Google Maps

Video "Spasskaya Tower and the Kremlin in the New Year"

On Saturday (August 28), the official opening ceremony of the gate icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin took place in Moscow. Despite the rainy weather, more than a thousand believers took part in the celebration. The procedure for consecrating and blessing the icon was carried out by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. According to Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, who was present at the ceremony, the icon will provide additional protection to the people of Russia.

At 15:00 Moscow time, simultaneously with the sound of the Kremlin chimes, the head of state and His Holiness the Patriarch left the first building of the Kremlin and passed through the gates of the Spasskaya Tower. After the prayer service, Patriarch Kirill ascended a pedestal decorated with white flowers, which brought him directly to the icon. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church sprinkled over the gate icon and blessed the believers.

Speaking after the consecration of the icon, President Medvedev thanked everyone who helped to preserve and restore the shrine:

“I am sure that since the acquisition and consecration of icons, the restoration of justice, our country receives additional protection, and therefore everyone present here, everyone who prays and everyone who loves our country.”

Now everyone who comes to Red Square, under the ruby ​​star crowning the tower, and the famous chimes, will see the face of Christ. For almost 80 years, this historical and religious relic has been hidden from human eyes. The icon was considered lost. Her second birth is a significant event for modern Russia.

The discovery of a fresco over the gates of the Spasskaya Tower in May of this year was a real sensation. It was walled up in the 1930s. Soviet authority, which preached an atheistic ideology, could not come to terms with the fact that everyone who entered the Kremlin through the main gate worshiped the holy image. The order was given to remove the image. The restorers completed the task, closed the icon, but, as it turned out, they did not destroy it, but did everything to save it for posterity. The secret was revealed after a sounding of the icon case was made in the spring - a special niche above the gates of the towers, where the holy image was placed. Sergey Filatov, head of the restoration work, told about this:

“Under the layer of plaster that we have seen all these years, there is a metal grating and mesh. They are separated from the paint layer of the icon by about ten centimeters. That is, there is an air gap. The painting is made on lime plaster. On the Spasskaya Tower - in oil technique, the last update of this painting, according to documents, was made in 1896.

It took almost three months of painstaking work for the best modern specialists to return the icon to the public. Moreover, it turned out to be much more difficult to remove it from under the plaster without damaging it than to restore it. It is simply incredible, but more than eighty percent of the image survived, without hiding his surprise, the artist-restorer Konstantin Muravyov said:

“The work on disclosure has been done a lot. There were many hardened cement-lime fragments on the icon. When the icon was walled up, the workers threw cement through the mesh. For 80 years, the solution has become very petrified.”

After removing the smallest particles and filling in the missing fragments of the original painting, the artists applied gold paint with microscopic precision. And the icon of the Saint appeared almost in its original form. Christ holds the Gospel in his hands, two Russian saints bowed at his feet - Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam Khutynsky. The fresco appeared on the Spasskaya Tower in the middle of the 17th century by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in memory of the miraculous deliverance of Moscow from the plague. The tradition of placing an icon on the gate leading to the city has existed in Russia for a long time. Losing an icon was considered a bad sign to acquire is a miracle. The present appearance of the icon is, of course, a miracle. But it could not have happened if it were not for the people, thanks to whose professional skills and moral strength it was possible to save the priceless relic.

It should be reminded that in 2007 the International Fund of St. Andrew the First-Called, which has a considerable number of such actions, initiated the restoration of the Kremlin's over-the-gate icons. The initiative received the support of the president and the blessing of the patriarch, and then it was put into practice.

Word of the Primate of the Russian Church after the consecration of the icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

Your Excellency, dear Dmitry Anatolyevich! Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, our Russian people!

A people is a community of people who are united by common goals, common responsibility and common shrines. For centuries, by the grace of God, our people have kept all this. But during the years of hard times, unprecedented attempts were made to destroy this commonality and create values ​​that lay outside the historical spiritual foundation on which our lives were based.

Amazing history of icons. By order of the authorities, they were supposed to be destroyed, but there were people, confessors, who risked their lives and instead of destroying the icons, covered them with chain-link mesh, put cement on top, painted over and pretended that the icons were destroyed.

In this story with icons - a symbol of what happened to our people in the 20th century. It was pretended that the true goals and values, the true shrines were destroyed, that faith had disappeared from the life of our people. Someone needed this, and many pretended that this is how it happened. But the faith of our people has not disappeared anywhere. It was kept by our grandmothers and mothers, it was kept by confessors and martyrs, it was kept by those who did not spare their lives in order to preserve their faith. And when, by the grace of God, what happened to our people and our Fatherland happened now with these icons, the face of our people appeared to the world.

How wonderfully these icons have been restored - by the care of good people, with the support of the state, through the prayers of the Church! So let the face of our people shine with all its might, showing true goals, the greatest joint responsibility and readiness to serve our Fatherland without sparing our lives!

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Dmitry Anatolyevich, for your personal participation in this important symbolic action. I would also like to thank Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin and many others who contributed to the return of these holy icons. What is happening today shows that the joining of the forces of the state, the Church and the institutions of civil society in order to achieve common and important goals provides us with a wonderful example of solidarity.

May the Lord help our country overcome the difficulties that stand in its way in order to jointly revive the thousand-year-old beautiful image of Russia. God bless you all.

How was the restoration of icons on the Kremlin walls

Specialists will have to remove a thick layer of plaster and reinforced mesh, which appeared in the 30s of the last century.

Under the chiming clock - at exactly 11:00, with a large crowd of spectators - tourists and guests of the capital, and under the supervision of the big bosses, the restoration artists strike the first blow.

For almost eight decades, the shrine was hidden from view under a layer of plaster. And not just plaster. This is a heavy-duty solution, reinforced with steel bars almost a finger thick and with a special mounting grid. Now this shell must be removed, and in such a way as not to damage the image itself.

Before the Victory Parade at the end of April, specialists made two pits in the icon case, which is above the gates of the Spasskaya Tower. And they found an image that was considered lost. Now it is being restored.

And the fact that the icon is well preserved is noticeable even to a non-specialist. However, even historians cannot name the exact date of its writing. It is only known that it is dedicated to the deliverance of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Mehmed Giray, which happened in 1521. Reverend Sergius and Varlaam then prayed to the Mother of God for intercession before God. And Mehmed Giray retreated. All this plot on the icon. The All-Merciful Savior burned, but only scorched and suffered from the Napoleonic invasion. But then it was restored several times.

- It seems to me that there will be no special bubbles here, here the plaster can be uneven.

- God forbid.

- Obviously, here it sticks out a little with nails.

- It doesn't feel like it's bubbling.

Surprisingly, historians cannot yet establish exactly when the image was hidden. And who gave that order. Some believe that during the NEP, in the mid-20s. Others - that in the 37th year. It is only obvious that the performer did everything to preserve the fresco for posterity.

“Russian people - they are very resourceful, I can imagine a situation when some big rank uttered the phrase - get out of sight! - which was carried out in full accordance with this order. They took it out of sight, but in such a way that it has survived to this day, ”said Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for National Glory of Russia and the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation, President of Russian Railways.

Artists-restorers remove a layer of plaster literally by a centimeter. And, most likely, it will not be possible to open the entire icon on Tuesday. This will take at least a week.

“After that, the restoration of the painting will begin. For now, this is just preparation. The restoration process itself will take two to three months, this is at best. Well, maybe more,” explains Sergey Filatov, artist-restorer, director of the Interregional Scientific and Restoration Artistic Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Another shrine that will be returned to the Russians is located on the Nikolskaya Tower. In the 17th year, the Bolsheviks hit it with direct fire. But the image of St. Nicholas over the gate miraculously survived. But then it was plastered over. Very soon this invisible image will become visible and will be visible from afar for everyone who enters Red Square from Nikolskaya Street.

Shooting at the Image from rifles and guns ...

We bring to the attention of readers a number of historical testimonies, descriptions and documents that tell about these images.

Hang up the icon!

Blessing of Admiral A. V. Kolchak by Patriarch Tikhon

In early January 1919, a priest sent by Patriarch Tikhon came to the admiral with a photograph of the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the Nikolsky Gates of the Kremlin ... The priest was in the costume of a poor peasant with a bag on his back. In addition to the tiny image at great risk to his life, the priest also carried a letter from the Patriarch through the Bolshevik front, sewn into the lining of a peasant scroll.

... As is well known to all Russians and, of course, to Your Excellency, in front of this image revered by all of Russia, annually on December 6, on the day of winter St. Nicholas, a prayer was offered up, which ended with the popular singing of “God save Thy people!” all praying on their knees. And on December 6, 1918, after the October Revolution, faithful to faith and tradition, the people of Moscow, at the end of the prayer service, knelt down and sang: “God save…”

The arriving troops and the police dispersed the worshipers, firing at the Image from rifles and guns. The saint on this icon of the Kremlin wall was depicted with a cross in his left hand and with a sword in his right. The bullets of the savages fell all around the Saint, nowhere touching the Saint of God. The shells, or rather, fragments from explosions, broke off the plaster on the left side of the Wonderworker, which destroyed almost the entire left side of the Saint with the hand in which there was a cross on the Icon.

On the same day, by order of the authorities of the Antichrist, this Holy Icon was hung with a large red flag with a satanic emblem, tightly nailed to the bottom and side edges. An inscription was made on the wall of the Kremlin: "Death to Faith - to the Opium of the People." The next day, December 7, 1918, many people gathered for a prayer service, which, undisturbed by anyone, was coming to an end! But when the people, on their knees, began to sing “God save!” - the flag fell from the Image of the Wonderworker… The atmosphere of prayerful ecstasy is indescribable! It had to be seen, and whoever saw it remembers and feels it today. Singing, sobbing, screaming and raising hands, shooting from rifles, many wounded, were killed and the place was cleared.

The next early morning, with my Blessing, the Image was photographed very a good photographer. The Lord showed the Perfect Miracle through His Saint to the Russian people in Moscow in 1918 on December 6th. I am sending a photographic copy of this Miraculous Image, as mine to you, Your Excellency, Alexander Vasilievich - Blessing - to fight against the atheistic temporary power over the suffering people of Russia. I ask you: see, venerable Alexander Vasilyevich, that the Bolsheviks managed to recapture left hand A saint with a cross, which is, as it were, an indicator of the temporary trampling of the Orthodox faith ... But the punishing sword in right hand The miracle worker remained to help and Bless Your Excellency in your Christian struggle for salvation Orthodox Church and Russia".

I remember how the admiral, after reading the Patriarch's letter, said: “I know that there is a state sword, a surgeon's lancet, a bandit's knife… And now, I know!! I feel that the strongest: the spiritual sword, which will be an invincible force in crusade- against the monster of violence! ..” An enlarged photograph of St. Nicholas was presented to Admiral Kolchak in Perm, as a sacred and blessing image of the Wonderworker - by Patriarch-Martyr Tikhon, at a large gathering of the people of the liberated city, city and military authorities, generals foreign troops and representatives of the diplomatic corps. The following inscription was made on the back of the icon:

“Set by the Providence of God to save and gather the disgraced and devastated Motherland, accept this gift from the Orthodox city of the first saved region - the Holy Icon of the Blessing of Patriarch Tikhon. And may the Almighty God and His saint Nikolai help you, Alexander Vasilyevich, to reach Moscow to the heart of Russia. On the day of visiting Perm February 19/6, 1919”14.

Shot Icon

A record has been preserved of a miracle that happened to the icon in 1918. Archbishop John (Shakhovskoy) said: “In the spring of 1918, as a 15-year-old boy, I arrived from Tula to Moscow… Nikolsky Gate. I also went to this gate. I saw crowds of people there. A large icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker hung over the gate. It was covered with red cloth. The material was nailed to the edges of the icon and covered it all. And so, on this quiet sunny day, Muscovites saw how this red cloth that covered the icon, firstly, was torn from top to bottom; and further, strips of matter began, like ribbons, to come off the icon from top to bottom and fall to the ground ...

I stood in the midst of a reverent and concentrated crowd. The icon, in front of everyone, was completely cleansed of the red matter that covered it. And suddenly I heard shots behind me - one, another, a third. I looked around and saw a guy in soldier's clothes. His face was typically Russian, peasant, round, with tension, but without any expression. He fired a gun, aiming at the icon. Obviously, he was following someone's order by shooting at the icon of the saint. Marks from his bullets remained on the icon, which was no longer covered by anything. Only small pieces of red cloth remained along the edges of the icon, where there were nails. I saw how, in its obsession, sinful Russia shot down its shrines, and holy Russia prayerfully contemplated the miraculous sign of God's power over the world.

In memory of this event, the icons " Wounded Nikola”with the left hand shot off during the bombing of the Kremlin - with a temple and the right hand preserved - with a sword. A list from this image was kept in the funds of the Museum of the History of Religion - in the Kazan Cathedral of St. Petersburg, now re-operating.

Bishop Nestor (Anisimov) emigrated to China in 1920 and became one of the prominent figures of the Russian emigration in Manchuria. In 1945 he welcomed the Red Army to Harbin. In the same year, he passed into the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, was appointed manager of the newly established Harbin diocese in its composition. Since 1946 - Metropolitan of Harbin and Manchuria, Exarch of East Asia. On June 14, 1948, he was arrested in Harbin just before leaving for Moscow to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Russian Church. Soviet court sentenced to eight years in prison.

He is accused of participation in the transfer of the relics of the holy venerable martyr Elizabeth, organization Zemsky Sobor in Vladivostok in 1922, the publication of the book “The Execution of the Moscow Kremlin”, the construction of the chapel of the Crowned Martyrs, etc. He was in a concentration camp in the village of Yavas (Mordovia).
After his release in 1956, Vladyka was appointed Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Barnaul. September 8, 1958 retired. From December 9, 1958 - temporary administrator of the Kirovograd diocese. AT last years During his life, Vladyka traveled a lot around the diocese, performed divine services, preached the word of God, and protested against the closure of churches by the atheistic authorities.

Metropolitan Nestor died on November 4, 1962. He was buried in the fence of the church of the Patriarchal Metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Peredelkino.

Icon of Saint Nicholas

Regarding yesterday's incident at the Nikolsky Gate, the following details are transmitted.

The image of St. Nicholas on the Nikolsky Gates in the Kremlin was covered with a futuristic May Day poster with the inscription "Long Live the International."
When the crowd saw that the image was being closed, a delegation was sent to the Patriarch, Bonch-Bruyevich was informed by telephone. He said that the icon would not be covered with a poster. However, on May 1, the icon was covered with the red material of the poster.

During the day, the poster was torn in the place where the image of the saint was located. By evening, the poster was torn in half, and the image of St. Nicholas became visible again. In the religious-minded crowd, this incident caused all kinds of comments. It was said that a radiance emanated from the face of St. Nicholas.
The news of the case spread throughout the city. The pilgrimage to the Nikolsky Gates began. However, the horse guards dispersed the gathering. From among the pilgrims, a deputation was sent to the Kazan Cathedral, which asked the clergy to come out with a procession to perform prayers in front of the icon. A moleben was served, and the icon at the head of the procession was surrounded around the gate.

Yesterday, a large crowd of religious Muscovites gathered on Red Square in connection with what happened at the Nikolsky Gate. The crowd was dispersed.

Created legend

The story of the “torn” May Day veil on the Nikolsky Gates still continues to attract attention.
As before, people gather near the Kremlin wall. Some are praying, others are just looking around the scene with curiosity. Old legends are passed from mouth to mouth and new ones are created.
Here is one woman who swears that she herself saw how, on the morning of May 1, Nicholas the Wonderworker cut through the red veil with a fiery sword. Her story is confirmed by a young man.
The storytellers are surrounded by an eagerly listening crowd. Suddenly - fuck! A shot is fired from a rifle. This is a sentry on the Kremlin wall firing into the air, noticing the crowd.
The people shied away in different directions, but after a few minutes they gathered again.

Description of the icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, 1904. Priest: John Kuznetsov

“... At present, the icon of the Savior is presented in this form: written on the wall, on plaster oil paints. The Savior is depicted standing to his full height, his right hand with blessing fingers is lowered down, and in his left hand he holds the gospel, revealed in words: “The Lord’s speech to the Jews who came to Him: I am the door: By me, if anyone goes out, he will be saved.” Rev. Sergius /on the left side/ and Varlaam /on the right/ fell down at the feet of the Savior.

The image of the Savior is covered with a riza. In the upper corners of the icon are two flying angels: the angel with right side- in the hand is a cross, the angel, located on the left, holds a spear and a lip. Above the icon is a triangle with radiance, in the middle of which is the inscription "God". The background of the icon is gilded. Around the icon is a carved gilded kiota with glass. In front of the icon is a large gilded copper lantern, where candles burn day and night ... "

“...According to the Book of Degrees in 1521, during the siege of Moscow by Magmet Giray’s army, one nun saw a vision: a procession through the Frolovsky Gates with Saints Peter of Moscow, Alexei and Jonah and Leonty of Rostov were carrying the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God and others ... St. Sergius and Varlaam began to beg the saints to ask the Mother of God to intercede for people before God. The vision became known to the people. And, indeed, soon Magmet Giray, frightened by some wonderful vision, retreated from Moscow.

In memory of this event, icons were painted: the Savior with the pre. Sergius and Varlaam on the eastern wall of the Spassky Gates and the Mother of God with the saints of Moscow coming to Her. Peter and Alexy on the western wall…”

Description of the icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaysky on the Nikolskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin

I. Grabar. Lectures on restoration given in the 1st year of the Fine Arts Department of Moscow State University in 1927.

“An example of the amazing strength of the frescoes is the fresco of Nikola Mozhaisky on the Nikolskaya Tower in Moscow, dating back to the end of the 15th or the beginning of the 16th century. It is located above the entrance gate and faces the Red Square. In 1812, during the retreat of the French from Moscow, the tower was blown up. The entire top of it collapsed, but despite the terrible concussion from the explosion, the fresco survived and did not fall apart. Only a small part, which is not of great interest, has disappeared.

During the October Revolution, the guns placed on Nikolskaya Street damaged the gates with their shots, broke the lock of the arch above the gate, but the fresco still survived. The restoration of the fresco, carried out in 1918, "found that it was entirely painted in the 18th century and again in the 19th century with oil paints, which were removed."