Location
The Cathedral is located at the intersection of St. Basil Street (the famous “Shanghai street”) and Krasnoprudny Boulevard in the heart of Moscow. On this site, built between 1744 and 1752, stands the first Russian Orthodox cathedral dedicated to St. Basil the Great.
Age
It is believed that the construction of the Cathedral lasted from 1744 to 1752. The original design was based on Italian Renaissance architecture but was later modified according to the taste of the time. Hilarion Alfeyev succeeded Archbishop Anthony (Kazansky) in 2005. The cathedral is currently undergoing restoration work.
St. Basil’s cathedral was built between 1185-and 1237 AD. Its construction began under the patronage of the Byzantine emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus (ruled 1195–1207) and his wife Empress Eirene Angelina Doukaina. The cathedral has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. The church is dedicated to Saint Basil the Great, a 4th-century Christian theologian, philosopher, and saint from Caesarea. He became a monk and abbot of the monastery of Studios in Constantinople. His feast day is July 1st. The interior of the building is covered in mosaics, including those on the dome. These were originally produced in the workshop of John of Ravenna, who worked there from 1204 until around 1240. In addition, there are frescos painted by Constantine Lascaris and others. The structure stands on a foundation of marble blocks weighing over 100 tons each.
St. Basil's Cathedral was built between 1185 to 1237 in Constantinople (now Istanbul) Turkey. St. Basil's Cathedral was constructed under the patronage of Emperor Alexios III Angelos (1183-1195). The church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was the largest cathedral in Byzantine Empire. The current structure is the fifth incarnation of the building. The first version of the cathedral was commissioned by Emperor Manuel I Komnenos Doukas (1071-1118), but the project was abandoned due to the earthquake that struck the city in 1081. The second version was commissioned by Constantine IX Monomachos (1050-1111) and consecrated in 1082. However, it too was destroyed by an earthquake in 1107. The third version of the cathedral was designed by architect Michael Psellus in 1156. This version would become the fourth cathedral of Constantinople.
In 1204, the Fourth Crusade sacked the city of Constantinople, including the church. To save the church from destruction, a decision was made to repair the church rather than reconstruct it. They decided to construct a smaller replica of the original design. The work lasted from 1207 to 1237. Construction materials were used from marble, limestone, and wood. The dome of the cathedral was modeled after the Pantokrator Monastery. After the completion of the cathedral, it became the center of Orthodox worship in Constantinople. The cathedral had remained in use until 1453 when the Turks invaded the city. The cathedral was later converted into a mosque by Ottoman Sultan Murad II (1421-1451). After the conquest of Constantinople, the Ottomans continued to use the building as a mosque.
Today, the cathedral is a museum and a place of Christian pilgrimage. A small chapel can be seen inside the cathedral. There are currently around 4 million visitors per year who come to view the beautiful architecture. Psellos and his assistant Theodore Metochites. The project was supervised by Archbishop Nicholas Mystikos. The name "Basilica" derives from the fact that this church was founded around the relics of Saint Basil the Great (ca. 329-379), a bishop who became a saint after his death. He was known for being a great spiritual leader, writer, and philosopher. The construction of the original basilica began in 1632 under the leadership of Italian architect Carlo Maderno (1556–1629). He designed the building according to classical models but added some features to his design. During its construction, St. Basil's suffered many persecutions due to the anti-Christian nature of the Tsars.
After the revolution of 1917, the cathedral lost much of its interior decorations and furnishings. These were later restored between 1926 and 1935. St. Basil's is one of three churches in Moscow that have survived both World Wars and the Communist period without major damage. Other examples include St. Sergius is kept; and the Assumption Cathedral, whose interior walls are covered in frescoes painted by Andrei Rublev.
