St. Basil's Cathedral history of creation. Additions and reconstructions. A Brief History of St. Basil's Cathedral
Not far from the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower, in the very heart, is the world-famous St. Basil's Cathedral. It has several other names: Cathedral of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, which is on the Moat, as well as the Intercession Cathedral. Until the beginning of the 17th century, this monument of Russian architecture was called Trinity, since the ancient wooden church was built in honor of the Holy Trinity. Let's take a short excursion into history and find out who built St. Basil's Cathedral and where, in fact, this cathedral is located.
His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit is the Lord, the Creator of life, who proceeds from the Father, who, together with the Father and the Son, is revered and glorified, who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Let us be attentive so that we can give the holy offering in peace.
People: Mercy and peace, sacrifice of praise. Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Priest: Lift up our hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: We thank the Lord. People: That's right and proper.
The history of the creation of St. Basil's Cathedral
In 1552, on the day of the Intercession of the Mother of God, Russian soldiers began the assault on Kazan, which, as is known, ended in victory over the Golden Horde. In honor of her, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of a cathedral that would immortalize such a joyful event.
Construction of the stone St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square began two years later on the site where the wooden Trinity Church had previously been located, and where, according to legend, the holy fool, after whom the cathedral was named, was buried. There is a legend that St. Basil personally collected money for this Temple, but no one knows whether it was true or not. After all, the exact date of death of the holy fool has not been established. And yet, Fyodor, the son of Ivan the Terrible, ordered the creation of a chapel of St. Basil's in the Intercession Church, where his relics were placed.
Priest: Teacher, Lord, God, worshiping Father almighty, truly just and right to the greatness of your holiness, to praise You, sing praises to You, bless You, worship You, thank You, glorify You, the only true God and offer You our spiritual worship with a broken heart and a humble spirit. For You have made us know Your truth. Who is worthy to praise your mighty deeds? Or learn all Your praise? Or always talk about all your wonderful deeds?
Lord of all, Lord of heaven and earth, and every creature, visible and invisible, you sit on the throne of glory and look into the depths. You are without beginning, invisible, incomprehensible, beyond words, unchangeable. You are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great God and Savior of our hope, the image of your goodness, the true seal that reveals you, the Father, within yourself. He is the living Word, true God, eternal wisdom, life, sanctification, power and true light. Through Him was manifested the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth - the gift of Sonship, the pledge of our future inheritance, the first fruits of eternal blessings, the life that gives power, the source of sanctification, through which every rational and spiritual creature becomes able to worship You and give You eternal glorification, because all subordinate to You.
The Intercession Cathedral was built over six years. The author of the main idea of the temple was Metropolitan Macarius, and it was implemented by two architects, Barma and Postnik. Another version of this says that the Intercession Cathedral was built by a Pskov craftsman nicknamed Barma. Another legend says that Ivan the Terrible was delighted with the beautiful temple and did not want an equally beautiful cathedral to be built somewhere else. Therefore, he asked the architect if he could erect an equally beautiful building. The master boldly replied that he could do it, and then the king became angry and ordered the architect to be blinded.
For you are praised by angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, powers and many-eyed cherubim. Around You stand the Seraphim, one with six wings, and the other with six wings; with two they cover their faces; with two they cover the legs; with two they fly, shouting to each other with incessant voices and constant praises.
Priest: sing the victory anthem, proclaim, shout and speak. People: Saints, saints, saints, Lord of hosts, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to God in the highest. Priest: Together with these blessed powers who love the Master, we sinners also cry out and say: Verily, you are holy and holy, and there is no limit to the greatness of your holiness. You are holy in all your deeds, for you have decreed everything for us with righteousness and true judgment. Because he made man, taking dust from the earth and honoring him with your image, O God, you placed him in the garden of joy, promising him eternal life and the enjoyment of eternal blessings in keeping your commandments.
Style of St. Basil's Cathedral
The building of the Intercession Cathedral is a structure consisting of a central tent and eight main towers located around it. In plan it is a figure consisting of two combined squares, which together form an eight-pointed star, a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Also, the number eight symbolizes the day when Jesus Christ was resurrected and is a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the way to the newborn Christ. The combination of two squares is a symbol of the fact that the Gospel has been spread to all directions of the world.
But when he disobeyed You, the true God who created him, and was led astray by the deceit of the serpent, becoming the subject of death through his own transgressions, You, God, in Your righteous judgment, expelled him from paradise to this world, returning him to earth , from which he was taken, but bringing him the salvation of regeneration in your Christ. For Thou hast not forever rejected Thy creation Which Thou hast made, O Good One, nor hast Thou forgotten the work of Thy hands, but because of Thy tender compassion Thou hast visited it in various ways: Thou hast sent prophets; You have done great deeds of your saints, which have pleased you in every generation.