The centuries-old history of the Russian state is reflected in the monuments of art, architecture, literature. The capital of a huge country is Moscow, its center is the Kremlin, which today is not only the seat of the government and president, but also a museum that reflects all the milestones of the formation of a great power. Unique in its architecture and history, the complex can tell the visitor a lot of interesting things. Each of its buildings carries a part of our past: towers, squares, gardens, temples of the Moscow Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral is one of the most ancient buildings, the shrines stored in it date back to the formation of Christianity in Russia.
Location
The architectural center of the Moscow Kremlin is Cathedral Square. Two magnificent historical monuments are located along its perimeter. The southwestern part of the square is occupied by the Annunciation Cathedral, which is often called the Golden-domed Cathedral, it was consecrated in the name of the Annunciation of the Virgin. The temple is a unique representative of ancient Russian architecture, the pearl of the Kremlin. Over the centuries-old history of its existence, it was rebuilt many times, decorated with each next representative of the royal dynasty, but at the same time did not lose its main purpose and original form. In order to determine who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, you need to look at the history of its creation. It is reliably known from annalistic sources that at the end of the XIV Cathedral it already existed.
History
According to unspecified data, the Wooden Church of the Annunciation was erected in 1290. According to legend, the order for the construction was given by Prince Andrei, who was the son of Alexander Nevsky. It is not known who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin in the original wooden design, but by the end of the XIV century it existed in this form. The need for strengthening and restoration of the church arose after the Byzantine icon "Savior in the White Sacristy" was delivered to it. It is with this event that the first annalistic mention of the future cathedral is associated. To this day, no information has come from the original construction option. The size, the author of the building, the internal and external decoration of the church remain a secret that cannot be solved. From the beginning of the XIV century, the erection of a stone church begins, which later becomes known as the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The history of the further transformation of the temple is inextricably linked with the princely, and then the royal families, ruling in Russia.
XV century
The temple owed its incarnation in stone to Vasily I (the son of Dmitry Donskoy), it was he who ordered the building of a house church for the princely family. The main condition for the construction was its proximity to the living quarters of the chambers, which is why the Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin was called the Cathedral of the Annunciation by the townspeople. In 1405, the interior decoration was painted by the famous Russian icon painters (F. Grek, A. Rublev). The architectural features of the created structure, its design reflected the influence of the Byzantine style, which was strong due to the emergence of Christianity in Russia at that time. For more than 70 years, the temple served unchanged and in 1483 was destroyed by order of Ivan III.
Erection of the cathedral
Full renewal of the Kremlin buildings begins in 1480. Prince of Moscow Ivan III invited Italian masters to work, but subject to the restructuring of the entire complex of buildings in the old Russian style. Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin? From the annals of that time, the fact that the temple was erected by Russian architects is reliably known. For these works, Pskov architects were involved, who, with the assistance of Moscow masters, began the construction of the church in 1984. The foundation for it was the old basement, i.e. the cathedral was built in the same shape as the old one.
The Russian masters had a difficult task, it was to harmoniously fit the temple into the complex of buildings of the Kremlin. From the annals of the late XIV century, you can even find out the names of those who built the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow, these are architects from Pskov Myshkin and Krivtsov. It should be noted the talent of these people, thanks to their efforts, the Kremlin acquired another unique structure, saturated with the history of the state over the centuries of its service.
Architecture
In 1489, the construction of the cathedral was completed, it was lit by Metropolitan Gerontius. Typical features of the architectural traditions of Moscow and Pskov masters can be traced in this building. Like the pre-existing temple, it had the shape of a square and was crowned with three chapters. In the central part was a pillar from which low arches diverged to each wall. The cross-domed building was surrounded by covered galleries. The transition system connected the temple with residential buildings of the Kremlin complex. The apse (closed small altar recess) was located on the east side. The main (religious) purpose did not exclude the practical use carried by the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin. The description of the altar makes it possible to assume that the state treasury could be stored in the basement.
Appointment
The Grand Dukes, and then all the Russian tsars, used the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin as a house church. It performed all the family sacraments (baptism, wedding). The rector of the cathedral became the confessor of the ruler of Russia, he professed it, helped to draw up and assured the will, in long conversations he could give the tsar advice. The Annunciation Church kept the values of the princely (royal) family (relics, icons, relics of saints). The first Moscow princes kept the treasury in it. Each next representative of the dynasty, ascending the throne, tried to improve the decoration of the cathedral, bring something of its own into its appearance, leave a reminder of itself to posterity.
XVI century
Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, which we see today? The question is not simple, the building was often updated due to fires in Moscow and as a result of wars and revolutions. The most significant changes in the appearance of the temple took place during the 16th century. Basil III during his reign ordered to paint the temple "richly." The best icon painters in Russia (Theodosius, Fedor Edikeev) were involved in this work. The main motifs of the frescoes were preserved, but decoration and precious stones appear in the decoration of the cathedral. The number of domes increases to 9 (the symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Old Russian Christianity), each of which is covered with gold, so the cathedral becomes Golden-domed. By his decree, the southern entrance is intended only for visiting by the royal (princely) family, where they distributed alms and rested after the service.
Ivan groznyj
In 1547, Moscow and the Kremlin buildings were significantly affected by the great fire. The Annunciation Cathedral was no exception, so Ivan the Terrible ordered it to be completely restored (actually built). In 1564, the temple was erected, painted, decorated more richly than under his father (Basil III), and lit. The porch was decorated with carved portals of white stone, which were made by Italian craftsmen. Unique for that time were copper doors decorated with gold. The iconostasis and painting of the arch, walls and columns of the temple were partially recreated. By order of Ivan the Terrible, a porch (Grozny) was attached to the Annunciation Cathedral, according to giving it was the place where the tsar saw the portent of his death.
Modern history
The Russian throne was occupied by the Romanov dynasty, who also kept and decorated the Annunciation Cathedral. Its further history is an example of respect for ancient Russian shrines. The temple received the most significant damage in 1917, when a shell hit the Grozny porch, which was not restored. The Bolsheviks moved the capital to Moscow and placed the country's leadership in the Kremlin. Unique historical, religious, architectural objects became inaccessible for visiting ordinary people. After a long period, the new government opened the door to the historical center of the city, creating museums in the Moscow Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral functioned in this capacity until 1993. Today it is one of the most ancient operating shrines of Orthodoxy in the territory of our state.
Modern architecture
The Annunciation Cathedral was built over several centuries. It actually consists of several buildings of different times, which are quite harmoniously combined and form a temple familiar to a modern person in appearance. In the XVI century four chapels were added to the cathedral, each of which is crowned with a head, while three chapters of nine are decorative. The inner space is small in size, because the cathedral was intended only for the grand-ducal (royal) family. The architectural style of the building can be described as Old Russian, with Byzantine traditions. The dome construction due to lighting creates the effect of vertical movement, in the manner of decoration the Pskov architectural school (square pillars, spring-loaded arches) can be traced. Moscow masters introduced the figured belt of walls and the shape of the portals into the appearance of the cathedral. The Annunciation Cathedral is unique in its architecture and construction history.
Iconostasis
Unique in composition and age, the collection is located in several tiers (rows). Icons of the XIV, XV, XVI centuries, unique relics of Old Russian Christianity are presented in the temple. Among them are the works of Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek, which have survived to this day. Icons depicting the events of the life of Christ were created in the 16th century; their salaries were made by special order in 1896. The iconostasis of the Annunciation Cathedral is amazing because it has left a place for the image of the king, who rules in a certain time period. After the death of the monarch, the icon with his image was transferred to the Archangel Cathedral and placed on the tombstone.
