It is not easy to answer the question of who built the Annunciation Cathedral. There are different opinions on this. In the descriptions of the cathedral dating back to the 19th century, a legend (not confirmed, however, by other sources) was published about the construction in 1291 of the wooden church of the Annunciation by Andrei Alexandrovich, the prince, who is the son of Alexander Nevsky. Since at that time there was a princely court in Moscow, a temple must have been built on it. Thus appeared the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin. A photo of this building in its present form is presented in our article.
Different points of view
However, the mention of the Annunciation Cathedral in Russian annals appears only in 1397, when an icon called "The Savior in the White Cloister" was brought from Byzantium to Moscow. Researchers therefore attributed the construction of the stone building of this cathedral to the end of the 14th century. It was dated either in 1397 (Zabelin, Izvekov), or 1393 (Skvortsov, Krasovsky).
The reason for the occurrence of the second date was the information that Princess Evdokia created in 1395 the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin (brownie). It was believed that a princely temple was supposed to appear a little earlier. In 1405, according to the annals, the church began to be painted by masters Feofan Grechin, the "old man from Gorodets" Prokhor and Andrei Rublev. Finished the same year.
The construction of a stone cathedral
A new entry appears in 1416, which refers to the creation of the stone church of the Annunciation on July 18.
Other evidence of this monument is based on the restructuring of the Kremlin ensemble, which took place at the turn of the 16-17th centuries. The laying of the new building of the cathedral took place on May 6, 1484. Ivan III at the time of construction ordered to put up a tent near the Grand Ducal Palace for his confessor, so that he was inseparable from the temple. After 5 years, in 1489 (August 9), the new church was consecrated by Metropolitan Gerontius.
Ivan III at the end of the 15th century began the construction of a new magnificent residence of the prince. New walls of the Kremlin, the Assumption Cathedral, as well as the Annunciation Cathedral were being built at this time. The architects Myshkin and Krivtsov, who built the Uspensky, failed, however. The first attempt they made ended with the walls of the building being destroyed during the earthquake.
Pskov masters
And yet, who built the Annunciation Cathedral? We don’t know the name of the chief architect. However, according to one of the chronicler’s records, in 1474, one can judge that the Pskov craftsmen built the Annunciation Cathedral (stone). Of the other buildings that are listed in this information, the Dukhovskaya (Trinity in the annals) church, as well as the Provisions located in the Kremlin, are preserved. In all of them there are characteristic features that distinguish Pskov architecture: pillars, square in plan, elevated supporting arches. Based on these data, one can judge who built the Annunciation Cathedral. These were Pskov masters. However, there are also early Moscow elements: portals have a keeled shape, and patterned belts adorn the walls. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally about who built the Annunciation Cathedral. In addition, it was made of brick, although the main material for construction in Pskov at that time was white stone. So, despite the fact that the bulk of the researchers attribute the Annunciation Cathedral to the Pskov buildings, some still consider it the work of Moscow masters.
Annunciation Cathedral today
Today the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow consists of three parts, which were built at different times. The basis of it is a cross-domed temple, a four-pillar three-apse. The main volume built at the end of the 15th century repeated the plan, as well as, possibly, the dimensions of the temple that existed earlier, at the beginning of the same century. The difference between these two buildings was that in the later temple porch galleries were surrounded on all sides. It was believed that all of them, except the eastern one, were created together with the cathedral, but were open until the middle of the 16th century. Studies dating back to the 60s of the 20th century show that the vaults of the western and northern galleries are lined with the same brick as the cathedral. Based on this, we can assume that they are close in time or simultaneous to the main massif of the temple. The Treasury Chamber adjoined it on the east side, which was erected together with the cathedral, and was disassembled in the 18th century.
Cathedral becomes nine-headed
The Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow was originally crowned with three chapters - two were located above the eastern corners of the building and one in the center. In the arches of the galleries in the second half of the 16th century, four chapels were arranged, which also had chapters. In addition, two more were added on the main volume. The cathedral eventually became nine-domed. So the pyramidal completion was made from the central chapter to the chapters of the chapels. Its kokoshniki and keeled zakomaras, located at the central drum, emphasize it. The central chapter was gilded in 1508, and a little later, in the second half of the 16th century, this was done with the other nine. The roof was also covered with gilded copper. Because of this, the cathedral began to be called "golden-domed." The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary symbolizes the nine-domed - nine angelic ranks and the Righteous of Heaven.
Features of the Annunciation Cathedral
The Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin is small in size. This is due to the fact that it was intended primarily for the family of the prince. Initially, the iconostasis of the Annunciation Cathedral, which was only slightly lower than the existing one, adjoined the eastern pillars. The emphasized verticalism of proportions distinguishes its central space. This is a high drum, supporting step arches. Vertically, this movement was amplified by lighting. The lower part was darkened, and from above the stream of light poured from the windows of the drum.
In the western part there are wide choirs that rely on massive low arches. Their device for the end of the 15th century is already archaic. It is most likely connected with the purpose of the building as a family temple. Perhaps this is due to the desire to preserve the plan that the previous building had. It was also assumed (in the 19th century) that the choirs were intended for representatives of the royal family during divine services. However, it was found that they were initially separated by a wall about two meters high, and also two bricks thick. The choirs thus turned into a closed space, which was unsuitable for listening to the liturgy. They, more likely, could have aisles. Two moves lead to them: a spiral staircase from below in the southwestern corner of the building, which is located in the thickness of the masonry; as well as directly from the palace, which rests on an arch.
Porch
The building of the cathedral during the construction was surrounded on all sides by porches. Their initial appearance and time of occurrence are still not well understood. The eastern (together with the Treasury) was dismantled, and the south lost almost completely its original appearance. A porch decorated with carvings leads to the south porch. It, according to legend, was built for Tsar Ivan the Terrible, since he, after his fourth marriage, deprived of the right to attend the church, ordered to attach a porch on which he stood during the service.
Floor and porch
Tradition also connects with Ivan the Terrible the appearance of sex, which exists now. It consists of small silicon blocks interspersed with jasper and agate. It is believed that the floor was brought from Rostov the Great by this king, where he once got from Byzantium. The porch that overlooks the northeast square was the front door. When a chapel was built on its arches in 1564, pillars were brought under it to strengthen the structure, so the ancient forms were lost. The porch was originally similar to the south, was lighter. Its arches were supported by columns with carved capitals. In the thickness of the pillar, one of them has been preserved. The staircase was also rebuilt - initially it was steeper and shorter.
Portals lead to the temple with porches. Western and northern are made by Italian carvers. Southern during the alteration in 1836, the southern porch was destroyed, restored in 1949 from the surviving remains.
Painting of the cathedral
Basil III, the Grand Duke, who was the heir to Ivan III, ordered at the very beginning of the reign to decorate the cathedral’s icons with silver and gold salaries, as well as to paint it. There is an assumption that the icons of Andrei Rublev (from the old wooden one) were transferred to the cathedral and that a new painting was executed according to the exact model of an earlier one. Fedor Edikeev completed this work.
As a result, images appeared on the porch in the mural of various ancient Greek sages who lived before the birth of Christ (Socrates, Plato, Plutarch, Zeno, Ptolemy, Thucydides, Aristotle) with scrolls in their hands that contain sayings close to Christian ideas. There are many versions regarding this painting. According to one of them, this is the innovation of Fedor Yedikeyev. Others believe that the first metropolitans in Russia were Greeks by origin and worshiped their sages, not even Christians.
Shrines of the Annunciation Cathedral
Many shrines were kept in the Annunciation Cathedral. The icon of the Annunciation, the rarest in its iconographic type, was made on the wall of the temple. He reflected the eastern tradition, according to which the Blessed Virgin appeared the Archangel Gabriel at the well in Nazareth and brought her the Good News that the Savior would be born to her.
The image of the All-Merciful Savior was in the narthex of the cathedral. According to the tradition of the people, one dignitary from him received wonderful help. This man, who incurred royal anger upon himself, received prayer to return to service and forgiveness. After that, people, waiting for mercy and good news, began to come to the image.
The Don Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also stored here, which, after the Battle of Kulikovo, was presented to Dmitry Donskoy. He was blessed in this way, according to legend, by Sergius of Radonezh. In honor of this icon in the 17th century, the Don Monastery was built in Moscow. Now she is in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Cathedral and Kremlin chimes
The history of chimes in the Kremlin also began with the Annunciation Cathedral. Moscow first began to know the exact time back in 1404. Then Lazarus Serbin, Athos monk, behind the wooden (old) Annunciation Cathedral, set a clock on the palace tower, marking the time every hour with a hammer blow. In 1624, the Russian masters Shumilo and Zhdan, as well as Christopher Galovei (Englishman) installed the main clock in our country on the Spasskaya Tower.
In 1917, in November, the Moscow Annunciation Cathedral was badly damaged by shelling. His porch was destroyed by a shell. After the Bolshevik government moved to Moscow, the building was closed. Now in the territory where the Annunciation Cathedral is located, a museum is located. You can get here, like the Kremlin, on a tour. Sometimes, however, services are held, as this place is holy. The Annunciation Cathedral on April 7 (since 1993) is visited by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. This day is celebrated Annunciation. The patriarch conducts worship here.