Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin: description

The centuries-old history of the Russian state is reflected in monuments of art, architecture, and literature. The capital of a huge country is Moscow, its center is the Kremlin, which today is not only the residence of the government and the president, but also a museum reflecting all the milestones of the emergence 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 bears a part of our past: towers, squares, gardens, temples of the Moscow Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral belongs to the most ancient buildings, the shrines kept in it date back to the period of the formation of Christianity in Russia.

Location:

The architectural center of the Moscow Kremlin is the Cathedral Square. Two magnificent historical monuments are located along its perimeter. The south-western part of the square is occupied by the Annunciation Cathedral, which is often called Zlatoverhim, 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, adorned with each of the following representatives of the royal dynasty, but it did not lose its main purpose and originally incorporated form. In order to determine who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, it is necessary to turn to the history of its creation. It is well known from chronicles that at the end of the XIV cathedral it already existed.

History

The wooden church of the Annunciation was erected in 1290, according to the unspecified data. According to legend, the order for the construction was given by Prince Andrew, who was the son of Alexander Nevsky. Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin in the original wooden execution is unknown, but by the end of the XIV century it existed in this form. The need to strengthen and restore the church arose after it was delivered to the Byzantine icon "The Savior in the sacristy white." It is with this event that the first chronicle mention of the future cathedral is connected. Up to now, no information has been received from the original version of the building. The size, the author of the building, the internal and external decoration of the church remain a mystery that can not be unraveled. Since the beginning of the fourteenth century , the construction of a stone church has begun, which will later become known as the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The history of the further transformation of the church is inextricably linked with the princely, and then the royal families ruling in Russia.

15th century

The temple was owed to Vasily I (son of Dmitry Donskoy) by his incarnation in stone, and he ordered the laying of a house church for the princely family. The main condition for the construction was its proximity to the living quarters of the Chambers, so the cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin Blagoveshchensky citizens called the temple "in the passage." In 1405 the interior decoration was made by 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 of that time. More than 70 years the temple served in unchanged form and in 1483 was destroyed by order of Ivan III.

Erection of the Cathedral

Complete renovation of the Kremlin buildings begins in 1480. The Moscow Prince Ivan III invited Italian masters for the work, but with the condition of restructuring the entire complex of buildings in the Old Russian style. Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin? From the chronicles of that time a fact is known for certain that the temple was built by Russian architects. For these works, Pskov architects were involved, who, with the assistance of Moscow masters, began the erection of the church in 1984. The foundation for it was the old podlet, that is, the cathedral was built in the same form as the old one.

Before the Russian masters there was a difficult task, it consisted in harmoniously inscribing the temple in a complex of buildings of the Kremlin. From the chronicles of the late fourteenth century one can even find out the names of those who built the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow, these are the architects from Pskov Myshkin and Krivtsov. It should be noted the talent of these people, thanks to their efforts, the Kremlin has acquired another unique structure, impregnated with the history of the state over the centuries of its service.

Architecture

In 1489, the construction of the cathedral was completed, it was highlighted by Metropolitan Gerontius. Typical features of architectural traditions of Moscow and Pskov masters are 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 the low arches to each wall. The cross-dome building was surrounded by covered galleries. The system of transitions connected the temple with the residential buildings of the Kremlin complex. The apse (a closed small altar deepening) was located on the east side. The main (religious) appointment did not exclude the practical use of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin. The description of the altar makes it possible to assume that the state treasury could be kept in the sub-plot.

Appointment

Grand dukes, and then all Russian tsars used the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin as a house church. In it, all family ordinances (baptism, wedding) were performed. The dean of the cathedral became the confessor of the ruler of Rus, he confessed it, helped compose and certify the will, in long conversations could give the tsar advice. In the Annunciation church, the values of the princely (royal) family (relics, icons, relics of saints) were kept. The first Moscow princes kept the treasury in it. Each successive representative of the dynasty, having ascended to the throne, tried to improve the decoration of the cathedral, make something of his own in his appearance, leave a reminder of himself to his descendants.

XVI century

Who built the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, which we see today? The question is not simple, the building was updated often 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 XVI century. Vasily III during his reign ordered the painting of the temple "richly". To this work attracted the best in Russia icon painters (Theodosius, Fedor Yedikeev). The main motifs of the frescoes were preserved, but decoration and precious stones appear in the decoration of the cathedral. The number of domes is increased to 9 (the symbol of the Blessed Virgin in the Old Russian Christianity), each of which is covered with gold, so the cathedral becomes the Golden-haired. The southern entrance by his decree is meant only for visiting the royal (princely) family, there they gave alms and rested after the service.

Ivan the Terrible

In 1547, Moscow and the Kremlin buildings were badly damaged by a large fire. The Annunciation Cathedral was no exception, so Ivan the Terrible told him to completely restore (actually build). In 1564 the temple was erected, painted, decorated more richly than with his father (Basil III), and illuminated. The porches decorated the carved portals of white stone, which were executed by Italian masters. The copper doors, decorated with gold, were unique for that time. The iconostasis and the painting of the vault, walls and columns of the temple were partially recreated. By order of Ivan the Terrible, a porch (Grozny) is attached to the Cathedral of the Annunciation, it was precisely the place where the king saw the foreknowledge of his death.

Modern History

The Russian throne was occupied by the dynasty of the Romanovs, who also kept and adorned the Annunciation Cathedral. His further history is an example of a careful attitude to the Old Russian shrines. The temple suffered the most significant damage in 1917, the Grozny porch that was not restored was destroyed by hitting the projectile. The Bolsheviks moved the capital to Moscow and placed the leadership of the country in the Kremlin. Unique historical, religious, architectural objects became inaccessible to ordinary people. After a long period, the new government opened the entrance to the historical center of the city, creating museums of the Moscow Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral functioned in this capacity until 1993. Today it is one of the oldest active 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 time, which are quite harmoniously combined and form a temple familiar to the modern person. In the 16th century, four chapels are attached to the cathedral, each of which is crowned with a head, while three of the nine chapters are decorative. The interior space is small in size, since the cathedral was intended only for the grand dukes (royal) family. The architectural style of construction can be described as Old Russian, with Byzantine traditions. Dome construction due to lighting creates the effect of vertical movement, in the manner of decoration can be traced the Pskov architectural school (square pillars, arched arches). The Moscow masters brought to the shape of the cathedral the patterned belts of the walls and the shape of the portals. The Annunciation Cathedral is unique in its architecture and history of construction.

Iconostasis

Unique in composition and age collection, is located in several tiers (rows). Icons of the 14th, 15th, 16th centuries, unique relics of ancient Russian Christianity are represented in the church. Among them are the works of Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek, which have survived to this day. The icons depicting the events of Christ's life were created in the 16th century, their salaries were made on special order in 1896. The iconostasis of the Annunciation Cathedral is amazing because it leaves room for the image of a 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 a tombstone.

Painting

The most ancient original samples of frescos were lost in the fires and rebuilding of the cathedral. Modern painting is their counterparts, it is made by artists of the 16th century who tried to convey the color solutions, shapes and significance of the stories. Surprising is the fact that along with the traditional biblical motifs on the walls, arches, columns depict the faces of Russian princes and ancient philosophers, this adds uniqueness to such a monument as the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin. Moscow, Russia does not have more ancient examples of murals of temples. This museum stores works of religious art, which have no analogues. The image of the Annunciation refers to the most ancient and rare type of iconography.