Menu Close

Who built St Basil Cathedral?

Who built St Basil Cathedral?

Postnik Yakovlev
Ivan Barma
St. Basil’s Cathedral/Architects

What is St Basil Cathedral famous for?

St. Basil’s Cathedral is Moscow’s most famous artistic work of architecture. Also called “Pokrovsky Cathedral” or “The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat”, it is the most recognizable Russian building.

Why is it called St Basil’s Cathedral and what’s the story behind it?

Saint Basil’s is a cluster of buildings – a central church surrounded by nine auxiliary churches, eight dedicated to Ivan’s eight victories over the Tatars, and a smaller one consecrated to Saint Basil. This famous Moscow saint was buried in the grounds, and his name later became the name of the Cathedral.

Why is St Basil’s Cathedral so Colourful?

The exterior of the cathedral was made to look like brickwork. Each era left its trace on the cathedral’s architecture. After a fire in 1595, the churches were decorated with onion domes, which acquired their present-day vivid colors only in the 18th century.

Why was St Basil built?

St. Basil’s was built by order of Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) to commemorate the capture of the Tatar stronghold Kazan in 1552. Legend holds that the architects were blinded by Ivan the Terrible after they completed the Cathedral so that they could not replicate such a beautiful structure.

What is Saint Basil Cathedral made out of?

The cathedral is an extraordinary structure with eight claustrophobically small chapels huddled around an incredibly tall central nave. The whole thing was built from a new material—brick, which covers a timber frame. Four of the chapels are raised up on platforms to symbolise their position between heaven and earth.

Why did they build the St Basil Cathedral?

How many towers does St Basil have?

The cathedral has four octagonal towers and four square towers, all built with red brick, an innovation at the time.

Is St Basil cathedral still used today?

The fairy-tale Cathedral still dominates Red Square and impresses its beauty on our imagination. The Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan, and was constructed from 1555 to 1561. St Basil’s Cathedral is now a museum, and the interior can still be explored.

Can you go inside St Basil’s Cathedral?

Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, located in Red Square, is definitely a must-go visit in the Russian capital. The entrance costs 700 rubles (it’s free for children up to 16 years old). Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow and how to organize your visit (tickets, schedules, duration and guided tours). …

What style is St Basil’s Cathedral?

tented-roof church
St. Basil’s Cathedral/Architectural styles

When was the St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow built?

It was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. It was the city’s tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. The Saint Basil’s Cathedral is not to be confused with the Moscow Kremlin .

How did Saint Basil’s Cathedral get its name?

Some historians say that the two names actually reference a single person and that “Barma” was actually Postnik Yakovlev’s nickname. Saint Basil’s Cathedral sits in Moscow’s Red Square near the fortfied Kremlin complex.

Why was St.Basil’s built on a steep roof?

Their knowledge included the technology to make steep tented roofs, which Saint Basil’s has on its central chapel. The architects behind Saint Basil’s arranged the group of chapels in a mostly symmetrical layout, with each one housing an altar dedicated to a saint associated with Ivan’s power.

When was St.Basil the Great born and died?

St. Basil the Great, Latin Basilius, (born ad 329, Caesarea Mazaca, Cappadocia—died January 1, 379, Caesarea; Western feast day January 2; Eastern feast day January 1), early Church Father who defended the orthodox faith against the Arian heresy. As bishop of Caesarea, he wrote several works on monasticism, theology, and canon law.