St. Basil's Cathedral

Standing before Saint Basil's Cathedral, you are looking at perhaps the most recognizable building in the world and the ultimate cultural symbol of Russia. Officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy…

The construction of Saint Basil’s marks a turning point in Russian national architecture. In the sixteenth century, traditional Moscow buildings were often made of white stone, but this cathedral utilized red brick, a relatively…

While the cathedral’s official name is long and complex, the world knows it as Saint Basil's because of the small chapel annexed to the main structure in 1588. This chapel houses the tomb of Vasily, or Basil, the Blessed, a…

Beneath the vibrant chapels lies the 'Podklet,' the high basement of the cathedral. For centuries, this area was closed to the public, used mainly for storage or by the church administration. …

If you look closely at the upper walls of the central church, you might notice small, mysterious holes. These are the openings of 'Golosniki,' or 'voice jars.' These ceramic vessels were built directly into the masonry during…

As you move through the internal galleries, you are surrounded by one of the most significant collections of Orthodox art in Russia. The cathedral’s museum contains more than eight hundred objects, including icons dating back to…

Our tour ascends to the belfry, the home of the cathedral's voice. The current belfry was built in the late seventeenth century, replacing an earlier structure. …

Our journey through Saint Basil’s Cathedral brings us back to the cobblestones of Red Square, beneath the shadow of those legendary onion domes. We have explored the secret wooden skeleton of its walls, touched the tomb of the…