St. Basils Cathedral

A recent History channel biography on Ivan the Terrible, prompted me to review a few of my images from trips we took to Russia.  St. Basils, or known officially as "The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat",  in Moscow was ordered by Ivan to commemorate the capture of Kazan from the Mongols.  Legend has it that upon completion in 1560, the builders were blinded so as to never replicate such beauty.  The original building has been hidden beneath layers of stylistic additions and new churches added to the main building. In fact, when built, the Cathedral was all white to match the white-stone Kremlin, and the onion domes were gold rather than multi-colored and patterned as they are today. In the 17^th century a hip-roofed bell tower was added.

For a time there was talk of demolishing St. Basils, primarily  because it hindered Stalin's plans for massed parades on Red Square.  Thankfully it was saved and is now a museum although one service a year is held in the Cathedral, on the Day of Intercession in October.