Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
miliating himself for the greater glory of God. He was believed to be a seer and miracle-
maker, and even Ivan the Terrible revered and feared him. This tenth chapel - the only one
at ground level - was added in 1588, after the saint's death. Look for the icon depicting St
Vasily himself, with Red Square and the Kremlin in the background.
Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God
The tall, tent-roofed tower in the centre of the cathedral houses the Church of the Interces-
sion of the Holy Mother of God. The ceiling soars to nearly 47m. Some of the walls have
been restored to their original appearance (a painted red-brick pattern), while others show
off fragments from oil murals that were painted later. From the vestry, the doorways into
this central chapel are among the most elaborate architectural elements in the cathedral, gor-
geously embellished with tile and brick work.
Church of Saints Cyprian & Justina
The colourful Church of Saints Cyprian & Justina is adorned with oil paintings depicting the
lives of the 4th-century saints, as well as Biblical stories. At 20m, the vault in the dome de-
picts the
Mother of God of the Burning Bush
. The paintings and the iconostasis date to
the end of the 18th century.
Church of the Holy Trinity
With white-washed walls and a spiralling symbol of eternity painted in the vault, the light-
filled Church of the Holy Trinity is a favourite. A gorgeous 16th-century chandelier is sus-
pended from the 20m ceiling. But the gem of the room is the unusual iconostasis. The 16th-
century
Icon of the Old Testament Trinity
in the third tier is among the oldest and most
esteemed pieces of artwork in the cathedral.
Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem
This chapel is dedicated to the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, also known in Orthodoxy
as Willow Sunday. At 23m, this is one of the tallest towers in the cathedral. White-washed
walls (as originally painted) show off the architectural elements. Above the northern en-
trance, you can see the scar left by a shell that hit the wall in October 1917. The iconostasis
was moved from the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky in the Kremlin in 1770. One of the
most sacred and revered pieces in the cathedral is the 17th-century icon of the
Life of St
Alexander Nevsky,
which depicts 33 scenes from the saint's life.
