Even under Ivan Kalita, on the spot where a wooden church stood in the 12th century.

For 100 years, the cathedral fell into disrepair, and in 1472, under Ivan III, it was decided to build a new Assumption Cathedral. At first it was built by Russian architects, but after 2 years the almost completed temple collapsed. It was said that the lime was not gluten, and the white stone was not durable. Then, on the advice of the wife of Ivan III, the Byzantine princess Sofia Paleolog, the Italian architect Fiorovanti was invited.

First of all, he went to take measurements from the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, as he was not familiar with traditional Russian architecture and the cross-domed system, when the entire space of the temple is a cross with a dome in the center. Upon returning, the architect immediately began construction. And after 4 years, on August 12, 1479, the Assumption Cathedral was consecrated.

Fiorovanti used many architectural innovations: the foundation was deepened, oak piles were driven into the ground, brick walls were lined with white stone blocks on the outside, and the apses were “hidden” behind pylons.

What is what in the church

The Assumption Cathedral turned out to be unusual: outwardly it looks like a Russian church, but it is structurally built differently - like a Russian pie with Italian filling. Inside, this difference is immediately noticeable: instead of the usual square pillars, round pillars divide the space into 12 identical squares. And the height of the arches of 40 meters makes the temple look like a front hall.

Appearance The temple impressed the Muscovites: it seemed huge, but it looked "like a single stone." All his lines were clear, and the mosquitoes seemed to be drawn with a compass.

By decree of Mikhail Fedorovich, an artel of 150 icon painters painted the Assumption Cathedral, creating 250 plot compositions and more than 2,000 individual figures. And the iconostasis was created in 1653 on the initiative of Patriarch Nikon. In its 69 icons, the entire history of mankind is illustrated in accordance with the Bible.

The last time the domes of the cathedral were gilded under Ivan IV, using a technology that is no longer used. This is gilding at low tide, or mercury, in which gold is combined in an alloy with mercury. When heated, mercury evaporates, and gold is fixed on the surface and acquires a warm hue. But master gilders died after several years of working with mercury.

In the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, metropolitans and patriarchs were ordained and buried, Orthodox Christians were baptized and excommunicated, including the writer Leo Tolstoy.

Guide to Architectural Styles

Here Ivan III tore up the khan's charter, putting an end to the Horde yoke. Also, in the Assumption Cathedral, since 1498, the ceremony of the wedding to the kingdom took place, and before that, “they were crowned to the kingdom” in the Assumption Cathedral of Vladimir.

This magnificent ceremonial, as it were, confirmed the deification of the person who ascended the throne. Its main element was the Monomakh's hat, which was brought as a symbol of wisdom and power to every Russian tsar up to Peter I (in 1721 he already took the imperial title).

And the first imperial coronation in Russia and the first coronation of a woman (Catherine I) took place on May 7, 1724, also in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. During the coronation, they used a crown, a scepter, an orb, a mantle, an imperial chain, a sword, a banner, a seal and a shield. Many of these attributes were made especially for the ceremony.

In 1812, the French turned the Assumption Cathedral into a stable. They robbed and destroyed everything they could get, tore apart the iconostasis, removed the salaries and took out of the temple about 300 kg of gold. Silver was recaptured, and after the end of the war, the central chandelier of the church was cast from it.

In Soviet times, services in the cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin were banned, but in 1990 they were returned to the Orthodox Church. Now the Assumption Cathedral is a museum, and services are held on patronal feasts. At the same time, each time before the service, the cathedral is consecrated anew.

Kremlin: mini-guide to the territory

In the museum of the Assumption Cathedral you can see, for example, the wooden Tsar's place, or the throne of Monomakh. It was made in 1551 for Ivan IV. Probably, Novgorod carvers created this miracle, since the throne is richly decorated with intricate carvings. And 12 bas-reliefs on the walls of the Tsarskoe place illustrate the "Legend of the Princes of Vladimir", which tells about the bringing to Russia of royal regalia - Monomakh's hat, barm (ceremonial mantle) and other items. Hence the second name of the throne. And the tent canopy of the Tsar's Place is shaped like a Monomakh's hat.

And along the walls of the Assumption Cathedral are the tombs of Russian metropolitans and patriarchs. The temple began to serve as a tomb since 1326, when Metropolitan Peter was buried in it. There are 19 burials in the cathedral.

They say that...... by order of Ivan III, Aristotle Fiorovanti built a hiding place in the central dome of the Assumption Cathedral. After the construction of the temple and the Kremlin dungeons was completed, the architect disappeared. According to the official version, robbers attacked him. And according to popular legend, Ivan III demanded that Fiorovanti reveal the secret of obtaining the philosopher's stone, but he refused. The enraged king ordered the architect to be immured in one of the dungeons, and then Fiorovanti cursed his entire family. That same night, lightning struck the recently rebuilt Assumption Cathedral. The temple was on fire. The fire was put out with difficulty, but disasters followed one after another. Then Ivan III ordered to open the dungeon where the architect was walled up, but he was not there - only a broken chain and the ring of King Solomon. Since then, the ghost of the great architect has been wandering around.
... the Byzantine emperors in the 12th century gave the Monomakh's cap to Vladimir Monomakh as the heir and successor of the empire - hence the name. But in fact, Ivan Kalita brought the hat from the Golden Horde, and it was listed in the wills as a “golden hat”. Now the regalia is stored in, and it is not difficult to notice an oriental carpet ornament on it. The cross and sable trim were added simultaneously with the creation of the legend of the Monomakh's hat. At the same time, consisting of gold, pearls and precious stones The hat is also of great value. In 1812, when the French plundered the treasuries of the Kremlin, a local clerk hid it at the risk of his life, and the regalia was preserved.
... the emergence of the expression "Filkin's letter" is associated with the Assumption Cathedral and Metropolitan Philip Kolychev.
At the age of 13, Philip went to the Solovetsky Monastery and later became its hegumen. He enjoyed the glory of a righteous man, and in 1566 Ivan IV decided to make him Metropolitan of Moscow. Philip demanded to cancel the oprichnina. The tsar was angry at first, but then set a condition: he would listen to the metropolitan's advice on state affairs, but he would not get into the oprichnina and into the royal household. Philip accepted the metropolitanate.
For several months, the executions and outrages of the guardsmen ceased, then everything went on as before again. Philip tried to stop lawlessness, interceded for the disgraced, and the king began to avoid meetings with the metropolitan.
Then Philip began to send letters to Ivan IV, in which he asked to come to his senses. The tsar humiliatingly called them "Filkin's letters" and destroyed them.
And one day, on Sunday, during mass, the tsar appeared in the Assumption Cathedral, accompanied by guardsmen and boyars. The visitors were dressed in clownish, supposedly monastic clothes. Ivan IV went up to Philip and stopped near him, waiting for a blessing. But the metropolitan said that in this attire he would not recognize the king.
The angry ruler left the cathedral and ordered an investigation into the evil intentions of the metropolitan. Under torture, the monks of the Solovetsky Monastery slandered their former hegumen. After that, Philip during the service in the Assumption Cathedral was surrounded by guardsmen. They announced the deprivation of the dignity, tore off Philip's metropolitan vestments, drove him out of the temple with brooms, threw him into firewood and took him to a dungeon in the Epiphany Monastery. Then he was taken to the prison of the distant Tver Otroch Monastery. A year later, Ivan IV sent Malyuta Skuratov there, and the tsar's guardsman strangled Philip with his own hands.
Later, Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich ordered that the saint be buried in the Solovetsky Monastery. And in 1648, Philip was canonized as a saint, as it was discovered that his relics healed the sick.
In 1652, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the relics of St. Philip to be transported to Moscow. They were placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, and at the place of their meeting outside Moscow they installed oak cross with a commemorative inscription. The area around was subsequently called the "Krestovskaya outpost". The cross itself stood until 1929, after which it was transferred to the nearby Church of the Sign in Pereyaslavskaya Sloboda. There he is still. And the old name of the area was preserved in the names of Krestovsky Lane and Krestovsky Market.

The Assumption Cathedral was erected in 1475-1479 by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti on the site of two older temples.

All stages of the construction of the main temple of the state are reflected in the annals with great completeness. As a model, the Italian architect was asked to take the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir - a five-domed cross-domed church of the 12th century. Fulfilling the order, Aristotle Fioravanti repeated in his construction the most essential features of the famous model, but at the same time he managed to creatively combine them with the Renaissance understanding of architectural space.

The Moscow Assumption Cathedral is a huge six-pillared building with five apses and five domes. It stands on a high powerful plinth, a significant part of which is now hidden under the embankment of the Cathedral Square. The building is covered with a system of arches and cross vaults, resting at the same level on pillars and internal blades. The cathedral was built from well-hewn blocks of white stone with backfill inside the masonry. Vaults, drums, pillars and the altar barrier are made of brick.

The plan of the cathedral is 12 identical squares, four in each nave. This determined the main typological feature of the temple, about which the annals say: “Lay the church in an oblong, tiled way.” The uniform arrangement of pillars dividing the space into identical cells is perhaps its main characteristic. The absence of a choir and the leveling of the central space under the dome reinforce the impression of the vastness, “hall” of the interior. The diameter of the central drum is 3 meters larger than the corner drums. Its thin, two-brick walls are placed on the outer perimeters of the pillars. All vertical divisions of the facade are the same in width and main facade, outgoing to Cathedral Square Kremlin, has four divisions of the same size, completed by semicircular zakomaras of equal height.

The use of five low and flat apses with a three-nave plan was also new in the composition of the Assumption Cathedral, as a result of which the altar part is poorly revealed from the outside and is hidden behind a corner buttress from the Cathedral Square. The building does not have a crowning cornice, and the facades are divided by an arched belt.

In the Assumption Cathedral there is no direct repetition of any details and techniques characteristic of architecture Italian Renaissance. Fioravanti created a work close to him in spirit with its compositional clarity, rigor and laconicism of architectural forms. At the same time, the traditional features of ancient Russian religious architecture received their further development in new historical conditions.

For four centuries, the cathedral was the main temple of Russia: the grand dukes were appointed here, and the specific ones swore allegiance to them, crowned the kingdom, crowned emperors. In the Assumption Cathedral, bishops, metropolitans and patriarchs were elevated to the rank, state acts were announced, prayer services were served before military campaigns and in honor of victories.

Today, the cathedral, which preserves the tomb of the heads of the Russian church, ancient murals, a unique collection of icons, is one of the most visited museums in the Moscow Kremlin. Since 1990, divine services have resumed in the cathedral.

Two ancient churches - the predecessor of the Assumption Cathedral

Back in 1327, during the reign of Ivan Kalita and Metropolitan Peter, the first white-stone church of the Assumption of the Mother of God was built on the site of the Assumption Cathedral. According to the researchers, it was a single-domed four-pillar temple with three apses, three vestibules and three aisles. The aisle of Demetrius of Thessalonica was probably the original one and was located near the southern altar wall. The second chapel, called "Adoration of the chains of the Apostle Peter", was built in 1329. The third one was founded by Metropolitan Jonah in 1459 and is dedicated to the “Praise of the Mother of God” holiday in gratitude for the deliverance of Russia from the invasion of the Tatar Khan Sedi-Akhmet. The cathedral stood for almost one hundred and forty-five years and was inextricably linked with the life of Moscow. In the cathedral, grand dukes were crowned, metropolitans were appointed, and the main state acts were proclaimed. In it, a solemn prayer service marked the triumphal return of Dmitry Donskoy and the Russian army from the Kulikov field.

By the end of the 15th century, the dilapidated and cramped cathedral no longer corresponded to the increased importance of Moscow, the capital of the state. In 1472, with the construction of the new Assumption Cathedral, a radical restructuring of the Kremlin began. The construction was headed by Moscow masters Krivtsov and Myshkin. By May 1474, the building, built on the model of the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir, had risen to the level of vaults, but suddenly collapsed. The reason for this was the earthquake, the poor quality of the solution, miscalculations in the construction of walls and vaults.

After that, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III decided to invite Italian architects known throughout Europe to implement his grandiose plan to rebuild the Moscow Kremlin. On March 26, 1475, Aristotle Fioravanti arrived in Moscow and led the construction of the main temple of the Russian state.

Stages of construction of the main temple of the state

Aristotle Fioravanti first dismantled the cathedral of 1472-1474. For the demolition of the walls, special wall-beating machines were made. To facilitate dismantling, the remains of the walls were overlaid with logs and set on fire. Burnt limestone lost its strength and began to crumble. The speed of the clearing struck the Muscovites: “even if they did it for three years, they ruined it in one week or less.” The observant author of the chronicle also noted that Aristotle ordered to dig deeper into the foundation ditches, and he even hammered oak piles into the ditches, covered them with stone and filled them with lime. Such a foundation was to become a reliable basis for a grandiose temple.

Already in the first summer, Fioravanti brought a new building out of the ground and laid four round pillars inside the temple, and two square ones in the altar. In September, Aristotle was sent to Vladimir to study a sample - the Assumption Cathedral of the 12th century. In all likelihood, he saw something close: after all, Romanesque masters stood at the origins of the architecture of the Vladimir land, whose artels were built both in the West and in Russia.

Carefully following the progress of the construction of a new temple, the chronicle notes both thick lime, and mixed construction technique, and the fact that the vaults of the church were laid out in one brick, and iron ties instead of oak beams. The chronicler did not miss the fact that the foreign architect did everything “in a circle and in a rule”, that is, he checked the correctness of the built parts of the building with a compass and a ruler. In 1479, construction was completed, and the new temple was solemnly consecrated.

Built in 1475–79 under the guidance of an Italian architect.

main temple Russian state. The oldest fully preserved building in Moscow.

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The first stone cathedral on the site of the current one was built at the beginning of the 14th century, during the reign: on August 4, 1326, the white stone Cathedral of the Assumption was laid on the site of the former wooden church Holy Mother of God in fulfillment of the wishes of the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia Peter, who had moved to Moscow shortly before.

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Dormition Cathedral 1326–27 was the first stone church in Moscow. Archaeological studies have shown that it was a four-pillar, three-apse, three-fortress, one-domed temple, built on the model of St. George's Cathedral and in Yuryev-Polsky.

The temple was built in a technique characteristic of that time: masonry of roughly processed squares of white stone was combined with smooth-hewn elements of architectural decor. The temple was crowned with kokoshniks.

Under Ivan III, the temple ceased to correspond to the status cathedral strengthened centralized Muscovy. Probably, the temple intended for demolition was no longer repaired, and it became very dilapidated, which was reflected in the annals.

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In the summer of 1471, “Metropolitan Philip began to think diligently about the construction of a new stone cathedral church in Moscow, for the old one, built by Kalita, from antiquity and from many fires, already threatened with destruction, its vaults were already reinforced, supported by thick trees.

The construction of a new cathedral of enormous size for that time was entrusted to Russian architects Krivtsov and Myshkin. The construction, begun in 1472, was not completed, since the temple, brought to the vaults, collapsed after an earthquake (“coward”), which allegedly took place in Moscow on May 20, 1474.

The chronicler testifies:

“be a coward in the city of Moscow and the church of St. Theotokos, it was already made up to the upper chambers, falling at 1 o'clock in the morning, and the temples were all shaking, as if the earth was shaking.

Ivan III invited the architect Aristotle Fioravanti from Italy, who, having completely dismantled the remains of the former structure, erected the existing building in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir. The temple was consecrated on August 12, 1479 by Metropolitan Gerontius.

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The temple is six-pillar, five-domed, five-apse. It was built of white stone in combination with brick (vaults, drums, the eastern wall above the altar apses, eastern square pillars hidden by the altar barrier; the rest are round pillars are also made of brick, but lined with white stone).

The original paintings of the cathedral were made between 1482 and 1515. The famous icon painter Dionysius took part in the painting. In 1642–44, the cathedral was painted anew, but fragments of the original paintings have been preserved, which are the oldest example of fresco painting that has come down to us on the territory of the Kremlin.

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The temple suffered from fires many times, was repeatedly renovated and restored. After the fire of 1547, John Vasilyevich ordered that the top of the temple be covered with gilded copper sheets; the relics of Metropolitan Peter were transferred from a silver shrine to a gold one. In 1624, the vaults of the cathedral, which threatened to fall, were dismantled and rebuilt according to a modified pattern, with additional reinforcement with cohesive iron and with the introduction of additional girth arches.

In 1547, the wedding of Ivan IV took place here for the first time.

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In 1625, the Robe of the Lord, sent as a gift to Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich by the Persian Shah Abbas I, was moved in the cathedral.

During the Petersburg period, it continued to be the place of the coronation of all Russian emperors starting with Peter II.

In 1812, the cathedral was desecrated and plundered by the Napoleonic army, although the most valuable shrines were evacuated to Vologda. Of the tombs of the saints, only the shrine of Metropolitan Jonah survived. The cathedral was re-consecrated on August 30, 1813 by Bishop Augustin (Vinogradsky) of Dmitrovsky.

Restorations of the Assumption Cathedral were carried out in 1895–97. architect S.K. Rodionov, in the 1900s by architect S.U. Solovyov, in 1911-1915 - by architect I.P. Mashkov.

On August 15, 1917, on the patronal feast, the All-Russian Local Council of the Orthodox Russian Church opened here, and in October it decided to restore the patriarchate in the Russian Church; On November 21 of the same year, Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin) was enthroned.

Closed for access and worship in March 1918, after the government of the RSFSR moved to the Kremlin.

The last service before the closing of the temple was performed on Easter 1918 - April 22 (May 5); the divine service, which served as the initial basis for P. D. Korin’s painting “Departing Russia,” was led by the vicar of the Moscow diocese, Bishop Trifon (Turkestanov) of Dmitrov.

Modern status

Opened as a museum in 1955. In February 1960 transferred to the Ministry of Culture of the USSR. Since 1991, it has been part of the Moscow Kremlin State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve.

Since 1990, divine services have been held in the cathedral on separate days with the blessing of the Patriarch; called "Patriarchal Cathedral".

• A remarkable cultural and historical monument, a symbol of ancient Russian architecture.
• Beautiful frescoes of the 17th-17th centuries, good example Orthodox monumental art.
• Very valuable icons of the XIII-XIV centuries.
• The relics of the Moscow Patriarchs - Saints Jonah, Philip II, Hermogenes and Peter.

The frescoes that cover the walls of the cathedral clearly and in detail depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, as well as saints revered in Russia. The main works on the painting of the walls and the five-tiered iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral date back to the middle of the 17th century. The restoration of these murals was carried out in the 70-80s of the XX century. It is worth paying attention to the interesting artistic technique: the surface of the columns is divided by the artist into tiers lower than those located on the walls. Thus, the space of the temple seems less spacious, but higher, directed upwards. In addition, there are several in the Assumption Cathedral: "The Savior of the Golden Hair" (XIII century) and "The Savior of the Bright Eye" (XIV century).

And, of course, you should look at the Assumption Cathedral as part of the Kremlin and the city: it not only organizes the space of the Cathedral Square, but also in many ways forms the famous Kremlin panorama, which has long become a hallmark of Moscow.

Simple, but at the same time majestic temple is an example of cathedral architecture. This is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Moscow. For several centuries it was the cathedral church of Russia.

From the history of the Assumption Cathedral

Archaeological finds have shown that at the place where the Assumption Cathedral is now located, at the end of the 12th century there was a wooden church. And at the end of the 13th century, the son of Alexander Nevsky Daniel built on the very high point The Moscow Kremlin is a stone temple, which became the first stone building in Moscow. In 1326, Metropolitan Peter gave the idea to Prince Ivan Kalita to build a new church. The cathedral was solemnly laid on August 4, 1326. In the northern part of the church, Peter himself made a tomb for himself. The temple was built for a year, but it did not live to see the consecration of the temple on August 25, 1327. Since that time, the shrine served for almost 150 years.

In 1472, when the church was completely dilapidated, it was decided to build a new larger church. The Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir was taken as a model. But it was decided to build a new temple both wider and longer. The construction was carried out under the guidance of masters Krivtsov and Myshkin. But the job was not completed. May 20, 1474 the temple collapsed. One of the reasons is the earthquake that took place in the capital, and perhaps the masonry mortar was too thin. The temple lay in ruins for almost a year. Ivan III invited the architect Aristotle Fioravanti from Italy. From 1475 to 1479 the construction of the temple was carried out. As it should be according to the canons of Orthodoxy, the temple was built with five domes, six pillars and five apses. Made from white stone. Some of the structures are made of bricks. Like other buildings in Moscow, the temple burned several times. Therefore, it has been restored many times. In 1547, after a fire, by decree of Ivan Vasilyevich (the Terrible), the domes were covered with gilded copper sheets. The relics of Metropolitan Peter were transferred to the golden shrine. In the same year, the first wedding was made to the kingdom of Ivan IV. The coronation of all Russian emperors took place here. In 1624, the vaults of the temple were strengthened. In the XIV - XVII centuries. the heads of the Russian church, the metropolitans and patriarchs, were buried there.

During Patriotic War 1812, many valuables were transported to Vologda. And what remained in the temple was looted by Napoleon's soldiers. Thus, only the shrine of Metropolitan Jonah remained from the tombs of the saints. In 1911-1915. the restoration of the shrine was carried out under the guidance of the architect I. Mashkov. In August 1917, the All-Russian Local Council of the Orthodox Russian Church was opened here. He made a decision to restore the patriarchate in Russia. After the revolution in 1918, the temple was closed. Since 1955, the temple has been operating as a museum. Since 1991, the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Moscow Kremlin" has been included. Here, with the blessing of the Patriarch, divine services are held on certain holidays.

Architecture of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin

The construction of the church was carried out for especially solemn ceremonies. Therefore, both the architecture and decoration of the temple correspond to the festive atmosphere. The architect Aristotle Fioravanti did not just repeat the image of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir. In his creation, the trends of Byzantine and Romanesque, Gothic and Russian art are felt. He combined these styles in such a way that the new Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin appears to us as a temple of the entire Russian state. The temple is built of small blocks of white stone and is solid. The chronicle notes that the building looks "like a single stone." The pillars of the temple are round. Contemporaries marveled at his "majesty and height, and lordship and space." Inside the temple we feel space and breadth. And good lighting uplifts the mood and creates a festive atmosphere.

Decoration of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin

Wall paintings, icons and various utensils in the temple are works of art of world significance. As the chronicler noted, people who came to the temple and seeing its beauty felt "like standing in heaven."

The temple is famous for its paintings. They were originally executed in 1482-1515. The temple was repainted in 1642-1644. The existing painting was made by 150 artists headed by the tsarist masters Ivan and Boris Paisein and Sidor Pospeev. Architecture and murals created a vault in the form of the sky. In the chapters we see images of God. At the top of the walls are illustrations of the Gospel. In the next two tiers - the Life of the Mother of God. At the bottom are images of seven Ecumenical Councils. From the west side we see the composition " Last Judgment"The believers understand that they will have to answer for a righteous and sinful life. Numerous figures of martyrs are depicted on the round pillars. The famous icon painter Dionysius took part in the painting of the temple. Painting is represented by 249 plot compositions and 2066 individual figures.

The temple has a rich collection of icons. Some of them were written for the churches of Moscow, the other for the churches of other ancient cities of Russia. The greatest shrine among icons is the icon Mother of God Vladimirskaya. She was in Vyshgorod, then in Vladimir. In 1395, to protect against the invasion of Khan Tamerlane, she was transported by Vasily I to Moscow. Also here are such valuable icons as the Mother of God Hodegetria and "St. George", "Trinity" and others.

The huge iconostasis of 1653 occupies the entire wide wall of the temple. In front of it are places of worship. The royal is located at the left pillar. It is notable for the fact that the kings and queens, except for Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich, never got up here. The patriarchal seat is at the right pillar. At the patriarchal place, located on the right, you can see the staff of Metropolitan Peter made of ebony. Monomakh's Throne, made of walnut wood, is the third grand-ducal seat. It was created in 1551 for the first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It is located opposite the south aisle. The carved plates depict the legend of obtaining prince of Kiev Vladimir Monomakh signs of royal power from the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomakh. The most valuable relic of Christianity is kept in the altar of the temple - one of the nails with which Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross - the Nail of Christ the Lord.

In the temple we also see decorative monuments - applied arts. Among the attractions is a silver chandelier with flowers and garlands weighing 328 kg, cast after the retreat of Napoleon's army in memory of the victory. An openwork tent for storing church relics, created in 1624 by craftsman Dmitry Sverchkov, is presented as an example of foundry. In 1625, a part of the allegedly authentic clothes of Christ, sent to Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich by the Persian Shah Abbas I, was placed in a tent, in a golden chest. entrance doors temples are called the Korsun gates. They are decorated with gold, which is why they are often called Golden.

Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin as a tomb

Since 1326, when Metropolitan Peter was buried in the church, the church became the tomb of the metropolitans, and later of the Russian patriarchs. There are 19 tombs in the temple. At the end of the 16th century, tombstones with white stone epitaphs began to be installed. Where high tents are erected, the holy priests are buried. The miracle workers Peter and Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes are buried in wooden shrines with metal plates.

Visiting Cathedral Square, you will see the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin - a unique museum under open sky, which stores the most valuable church relics.