Saint Basil's Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, is a Russian Orthodox church on Red Square in the historic centre of Moscow, built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. Its cluster of onion-domed towers, completed with their present colours in 1683, is one of the most recognized artistic and architectural symbols of Russia.
Facts
Year Created LocationRed Square, Moscow, Russia 1 Architectural Style Building TypeRussian Orthodox cathedral, now a state museum 1 Commissioned ByIvan the Terrible (Ivan IV) 1 Construction UNESCO Inscription Year Current UseMuseum (division of the State Historical Museum since 1928) 1 Connections
In Form
16th-century Russian church on Red Square, Moscow.
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Russia, located there.
Sources
1. Saint Basil's Cathedral (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, paragraph 1, first sentence
commonly known as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is a Russian Orthodox church on Red Square in the historic centre of Moscow.
Lead section, paragraph 1, third sentence
The building, now a museum, is officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, or Pokrovsky Cathedral.
Lead section, paragraph 1, construction sentence
It was built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.
Lead section, paragraph 1, completion sentence
It was completed, with its colours, in 1683.
Lead section, paragraph 3
The cathedral foreshadowed the climax of Russian national architecture in the 17th century, and it is considered as a prime example of Russian Renaissance architecture.
Lead section, paragraph 4, first sentence
As part of the program of state atheism, the church was confiscated from the Russian Orthodox community as part of the Soviet Union's antireligious campaigns and has operated as a division of the State Historical Museum since 1928.
Lead section, paragraph 4, UNESCO sentence
The church has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
Genre reference
Saint Basil's Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, is a Russian Orthodox church on Red Square in the historic centre of Moscow, built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.
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