ABOUT THE BOOK
St. Basil's Cathedral, also called "The Cathedral of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat," or the "Temple of Saint Basil the Blessed," is an Eastern Orthodox Church in Moscow, Russia. The cathedral is a popular search on Wikipedia not only because it is a marvel of architecture, but because it serves as an important edifice for Orthodox Christians around the world. A major tourist attraction, the Cathedral gets more visitors every year than any other historical site in Moscow.
Sitting on the Red Square, St. Basil's western facade faces the Kremlin, where the preserved corpse of Vladimir Lenin lies entombed for onlookers to see. Although the Red Square is typically packed with tourists, many native Russians also frequent the area, especially at the end of the work day. By sunset, most tourists will have left only to be replaced by hundreds of Russians just finishing work. At that time, surrounded by natives, the "real" Red Square experience comes alive. The colorful spires and cupolas of St. Basil become even more stunning when framed against a setting sun.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Daria Hepburn is an experienced writer and a member of the Hyperink Team, which works hard to bring you high-quality, engaging, fun content. Happy reading!
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK
St. Basil's has come to represent the epitome of Russian architecture, even though it is highly unusual in many ways. St. Basil's was built between 1555-1561, at the direction of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. (Watkin, 2005) It is now considered the epicenter of Moscow, the tallest structure there for 39 years before Tsar Ivan erected a bell tower that was taller than the cathedral. Ivan, the first ruler to carry the title "Tsar of All Russia," had great power over the country's secular and religious life. (Perrier, 2002) A devoutly Orthodox ruler, Ivan was also prone to terrible rages and acts of barbaric cruelty that put him at odds with the Church.
Although the Orthodox Patriarch of Russia was the head of the Church, the Tsar did have the authority to convene church councils, and to make important decisions about church planning and design. In this day and age with the separation of Church and State, it may seem extreme to allow a political figure so much religious influence-but during the first 1600 years of Christianity it was very common. The beliefs of the Church were codified and clarified during a series of seven ecumenical councils that took place over several hundred years and were convened by political rulers, not religious officials. Voting on doctrinal matters, however, was solely under the jurisdiction of the bishops in attendance.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Saint Basil's Cathedral: History and Architecture of Moscow's Greatest Church
+ Introduction
+ Constructing a Masterpiece
+ The Colors of the Rainbow
+ Ring Out, Wild Bells
+ ...and much more
The Cathedral Today
+ Recent History
+ Conclusion
+ Trivia
+ References
