It is not easy to answer the question of who built the Cathedral of the Annunciation. There are different opinions on this matter. In the descriptions of the cathedral dating back to the 19th century, a legend was published (not confirmed, however, by other sources) 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 church had to be built on it. This is how the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin appeared. A photo of this building in its current form is presented in our article.
Different points of view
However, the mention of the Annunciation Cathedral in Russian chronicles appears only in 1397, when an icon called "The Savior in the white vestry" 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 in 1393 (Skvortsov,Krasovsky).
The reason for the emergence of the second date was the information that the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God (house) was created by Princess Evdokia in 1395. It was believed that a princely temple should have appeared a little earlier. In 1405, according to chronicles, the masters Feofan Grechin, "the elder from Gorodets" Prokhor and Andrey Rublev began to paint the church. Finished the same year.
Construction of the stone cathedral
A new record 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 16th and 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 Duke's palace for his confessor, so that he would be inseparable from the temple. Five years later, in 1489 (August 9), the new temple 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. At this time, the new walls of the Kremlin, the Assumption, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation were being built. The architects Myshkin and Krivtsov, who built Uspensky, failed, however. The first attempt, made by them, ended with the fact that the walls of the building were destroyed during the earthquake.
Pskov masters
And yet, who built the Cathedral of the Annunciation? We do not know the name of the chief architect. However, according to one of the records of the chronicler, in 1474, one can judgethat the Annunciation Cathedral (stone) was built by Pskov masters. Of the other buildings that are listed in this information, the Dukhovskaya (Troitskaya in the annals) church, as well as the Deposition of the Robe, located in the Kremlin, have been preserved. In all of them there are characteristic features that distinguish Pskov architecture: pillars, square in plan, elevated girth arches. Based on these data, one can judge who built the Cathedral of the Annunciation. These were Pskov masters. However, there are also early Moscow elements: the portals are keeled, and the walls are decorated with patterned belts. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally about who built the Cathedral of the Annunciation. In addition, it was made of brick, although the main building material in Pskov at that time was white stone. So, despite the fact that most researchers attribute the Cathedral of the Annunciation to Pskov buildings, some still consider it a creation of Moscow masters.
Annunciation Cathedral today
Today the Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow consists of three parts that were built at different times. It is based on a cross-domed church with four pillars and three apses. Built at the end of the 15th century, the main volume repeated the plan, and also, 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 was surrounded by galleries-porches from all sides. It was believed that all of them, except for the eastern one, were created together with the cathedral, but were open until the middle of the 16th century. Studies relating to the 1960s 20century, show that the vaults of the western and northern galleries are lined with the same brick as the cathedral. Based on this, it can be assumed that they are close in time or simultaneous with the main massif of the temple. The Treasury Chamber adjoined it from the east side, which was erected together with the cathedral, and dismantled in the 18th century.
The Cathedral becomes nine-domed
The Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow was originally crowned with three domes - two were located above the eastern corners of the building and one in the center. On the vaults of the galleries in the second half of the 16th century, four chapels were arranged, which also had domes. In addition, two more were added on the main volume. The cathedral eventually became nine-domed. Thus, a pyramidal completion was made from the central head to the heads of the aisles. It is emphasized by kokoshniks and keeled zakomary located near the central drum. 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 Most Holy Theotokos symbolizes nine domes - nine angelic ranks and the Righteous of Heaven.
Features of the Cathedral of the Annunciation
The Kremlin's Annunciation Cathedral is small in size. This is explained by the fact that it was intended primarily for the family of the prince. Initially, the iconostasis of the Annunciation Cathedral adjoined the eastern pillars, which was only slightly lowerexisting. The emphasized verticalism of proportions distinguishes its central space. This is a high drum, spring stepped arches. Vertically, this movement was enhanced by lighting. The lower part was darkened, and a stream of light poured from the windows of the drum from above.
In the western part there are wide choirs, which are based on low massive vaults. Their device for the end of the 15th century is already archaic. It is connected, most likely, with the purpose of the building as a family temple. It is possible that 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 originally separated by a wall about two meters high and two bricks thick. The choirs thus turned into a closed space, which was unsuitable for listening to the liturgy. On them, which is more likely, side chapels could be placed. Two passages lead to them: a spiral staircase from the bottom in the southwestern corner of the building, which is located in the thickness of the masonry; and also directly from the palace, which rests on the arch.
Paperti
The building of the cathedral during construction was surrounded on all sides by porches. Their original appearance and time of occurrence have not yet been sufficiently studied. The eastern one (together with the Treasury) was dismantled, and the southern one lost its original appearance almost completely. The porch, decorated with carvings, leads to the southern porch. It, according to legend, was built for Tsar Ivan the Terrible, since he, after his fourth marriage, was deprived of the right to attendtemple, ordered to attach a porch to the building, on which he stood during the service.
Floor and porch
Tradition connects with Ivan the Terrible also the appearance of sex, which exists even 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 came from Byzantium. The porch, which overlooks the northeastern square, was the front porch. When a chapel was built on its vaults in 1564, pillars were brought under it to strengthen the structure, so the ancient forms were lost. The porch was originally similar to the southern one, it was lighter. Its vaults were supported by columns with carved capitals. One of them was preserved in the thickness of the pillar. The staircase has also been rebuilt - it was originally steeper and shorter.
Portals lead to the temple with a porch. Western and northern are made by Italian carvers. Southern during alterations in 1836, the southern porch was destroyed, restored in 1949 according to the surviving remains.
Painting of the Cathedral
Vasily III, the Grand Duke, who was the heir of Ivan III, ordered at the very beginning of his reign to decorate the icons of the cathedral with silver and gold salaries, and also 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 the earlier one. Fedor Edikeev did this work.
Appeared as a result on the porch in the muralimages 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 about this painting. According to one of them, this is the innovation of Fedor Edikeev. Others believe that the first metropolitans in Russia were Greeks by origin and revered sacredly their wise men, not even Christians.
Shrines of the Cathedral of the Annunciation
Many shrines were kept in the Cathedral of the Annunciation. The image of the Annunciation, the rarest in its iconographic type, was made on the wall of the temple. It reflected the Eastern tradition, according to which the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin at the well in Nazareth and brought her the Good News that a Savior would be born to her.
The image of the All-Merciful Savior was in the vestibule of the cathedral. According to the legend of the people, one dignitary received miraculous help from him. This man, who brought the royal wrath upon himself, through prayer received a 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 Most Holy Theotokos was also kept here, which was presented to Dmitry Donskoy after the Battle of Kulikovo. He was blessed in this way, according to legend, Sergius of Radonezh. In honor of this icon, the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow was built in the 17th century. Now she is in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Cathedral and Kremlin chimes
The history of the chimes in the Kremlin also began with the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Moscow first began to learn the exact time back in 1404. Then Lazar Serbin, an Athos monk, behind the wooden (old) Annunciation Cathedral, installed a clock on the tower of the palace, every hour marking the time with a hammer blow. In 1624, the Russian masters Shumilo and Zhdan, as well as Christopher Galovey (Englishman) installed the main clock in our country on the Spasskaya Tower.
In 1917, in November, Moscow's 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 on the territory where the Annunciation Cathedral is located, there is a museum. You can get here, as in the Kremlin, on a tour. Sometimes, however, divine services are held, since the place is holy. The Annunciation Cathedral on April 7 (since 1993) is visited by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. On this date, the Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated. The patriarch conducts worship here.
