The most beautiful religious buildings Moscow (Москва)

One of the most remarkable monuments of Russian art, Pokrovsky Sobor (СОБОР ВАСИЛИЯ БЛАЖEННОГО) is the symbol of Moscow. Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, it was a centre of power: it was on the platform in front of its gates (nicknamed the Square of Skulls) that public executions were held and Ukases (decrees) were read. Today the cathedral charges for visits. One can buy an entrance ticket coupled with the State Historical Museum.

If there is only one cathedral to visit, this is it. Of all the monuments of the Orthodox faith in Russia, the Dormition Cathedral is the most majestic, the most beautiful, and also the most inviting to meditation. This church has always been an important sanctuary where princes were crowned and metropolitans were buried, but it was Ivan the Great who undertook to make it a symbol of the power of the nascent Moscow nation by calling on the Italian architect Fioravanti to transform the building. The latter worked on what became the masterpiece of his career. He used the rules of the Italian Renaissance, playing with space and light, which he combined with the Slavic style, which played with colours, wood carvings and shapes. The result is awe-inspiring: the interior of the cathedral, decorated with gold, commands respect, and the shimmering reds and blues that paint it make it seem larger. Today you can also see the throne of Ivan the Terrible, a relic of the past with wood decorated with scenes of everyday life of his time (1550).

The iconostasis of the cathedral dates from 1652 and its famous icon of Our Lady of Vladimir is to the left of the central entrance (a 15th-century copy of the 12th-century Byzantine original is in the Tretyakov Gallery). All in all, take at least an hour to soak up the almost mystical atmosphere of a plunge into the heart of the Russian Orthodox faith and the power of the Tsars.

The Annunciation Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Russian religious architecture, influenced by the Italian Renaissance. It served as the family church of the tsars, hence its more intimate character. The iconostasis is said to have been decorated by two of the greatest Slavic icon painters: Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublev. The door of the southern facade was added by Ivan the Terrible who, excommunicated, could only attend services behind this gate.

You may have seen a few statues of Lenin when you first came to Moscow? Well, you will have the opportunity to see that the man is smaller in life size. Especially since the famous intellectual, revolutionary and leader, already not tall in his lifetime (1.65 m), was shrunk during his mummification. The result is therefore not so impressive and it is often a vague impression of disappointment that we feel at the end of this agonizing journey constituting the visit of the mausoleum. Still, we recommend this pilgrimage, although it has not been de rigueur since the late 1980s, as it is captivating to have access to this piece of world history, preserved after a century of morbid fascination.

The mausoleum itself has a history : it dates back to 1929 and was built after nearly 500,000 Soviet citizens rushed to pay their respects to the remains of the (not-so-)great man, a week after his exposure to the general public in a temporary structure had begun. Lenin had to share his spot for eight years with an even smaller (1.62m) man, Stalin, before he was removed during de-Stalinization and relocated to the Kremlin walls. Since then, Lenin has been alone again as nostalgic, fanatical and mocking people pass by. Today, there is more and more talk about the possibility of paying him a last trip to St. Petersburg in the family vault: a solution that is requested by many, but never voted.

The third basilica of the Kremlin (АРХАНГЕЛЬСКИЙ СОБОР) benefited most from the contributions of the Italian Renaissance. The decoration is martial: frescoes depict great battles in Russian history; a 10 m high golden iconostasis (1681) supports the icon of the Archangel St. Michael attributed to Andrei Rublev. It is in this building that the princes and tsars of Moscow up to Peter the Great are buried: there are 46 gravestones, including the tomb of Ivan the Terrible.

Built by architects from Pskov, it was to serve as a counterpoint to the Italian influence. The church (ЦЕРКОВЬ РИЗОПОЛОЖЕНИЯ) was that of the patriarchs, before becoming in the 17th century that of the great princes. There are beautiful frescoes and a remarkable iconostasis by the painter Nazari Istomine (1627). Today it is possible to visit it and admire its iconographic treasures. In addition, the north gallery of the church is used as an exhibition space.

This small church at the corner of Red Square and Nikolskaya Street was built in 1636 to celebrate the victory of the Russo-Polish war (1612). It was destroyed by Bolshevism in 1936 and rebuilt identically in 1993. If your stay in Moscow is very short, we recommend this church to get acquainted with the orthodox culture because if its architecture is not exceptional, its icon is very famous and it is a very authentic church.

This beautiful square was designed in the 14th century and is the heart of the Kremlin. The square owes its name to the three cathedrals facing it: the Dormition Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral and the Annunciation Cathedral, reminding us of the historical links between power and the Church in Russia. On the square there are also the Palace of Facets, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe and the Church of the Twelve Apostles. Ivan's great bell tower still dominates the square, as it did when it was the tallest building in the kingdom.

It was founded in the middle of the 14th century and belonged to the Narychkin boyars. The Vyssokopetrovskiy Monastery (ВЫСОКОПЕТРОВСКИЙ МОНАСТЫРЬ), i.e. St. Peter's Monastery, is linked to the name of Tsar Peter the Great. When he was born, the Narychkin family, to which the Czar's mother belonged, offered rooms in the monastery, where the Czar's grandfather lived. The history of the monastery is also linked to the war with Napoleon. It must be said that the monastery suffered a lot from the marauders. In the church of Our Lady of Bogolyubovo, French Marshal Mortier condemned Muscovites accused of setting fires in the streets of Moscow. The abbey church of the monastery was built in 1514-1517. Next to the Cathedral is the Church of Our Lady of Bogoliubovo (1684-1687) and the tomb of Ivan and Afanassy Narychkin, who were killed during the Strelet Revolt.

To the south, the church of Saint-Serge-de-Radonège (1690-1694), built in memory of the support given to Peter the Great during the revolt against the Tsar organized by his sister Sofia. Note a beautiful bell tower at the entrance and the Church of the Intercession (Pokrovskaya, 1690-1694). Within the monastery grounds, your attention will be drawn to the Church of Our Lady of Tolga (Tolgskaya). Near the southern gate stands the church of St.akhomiVeliky (1754-1755). The beautiful proportions and fine decoration of this church allow to attribute it to the architect D. Oukhtomsky.

At the exit of the Kitai-Gorod metro station, you have to look a little bit for this church (ЦЕРКОВЬ ТРОИЦЫ "В НИКИТНИКАХ") deliberately lost in Soviet constructions: one of the techniques set up by the Soviet regime to fight against religious feeling. The church itself is one of the masterpieces of 17th century Baroque architecture: its harmonious proportions and shimmering red and white colours make it one of the stars of photographers and Instagram.

It's a very pretty little church (ХРАМ ВСЕХ ВСЕХ СВЯТЫХ НА КУЛИШКАХ), which seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale and seems a little lost in the middle of the ocean of reinforced concrete that surrounds it. It was erected to celebrate the Kulikovskaya battle that marks the liberation of Russia from Tatar domination. After being almost destroyed by the Poles in 1610, it found its present form in 1680. Visit also the beautiful interior of this place of worship.

Situated in the heart of the city, between trendy restaurants and luxury boutiques, the synagogue building stands out and amazes. It is reminiscent of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and has a unique and complicated history like that of the Jews of Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Initially, the synagogue was financed in 1883 by the industrialist and banker Lazarem Solomonovichem and designed by the architect M.N. Chichagov in a Moorish style. In the 1920s the synagogue began its adventures, its Jewish school for boys (the Heder) was closed and in December 1937 Rabbi Moshe Haim Gurtenberg was shot by the GPU (USSR State Police), two years later it became state property. For almost 40 years it served as a centre for amateur artists. In 1991 the synagogue was returned to the Jewish community of Moscow. It was erected by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson as a representation of the ultra-orthodox Lubavitch movement on Russian territory. The new building of the synagogue on Bolshaya Bronaya Street was built in memory of the Jewish victims of the 20th century.

On the top floor, there is a nice kosher Jerusalem restaurant (Yerousalim) which offers specialities from the Caucasus and the Middle East, including a variety of grilled meat and fish that can be enjoyed in summer on their terrace with a lovely view of the city.

This elegant mosque is a survivor of the anti-religious campaigns (there were only two left in Moscow in 1990, for 80 million Muslims in the USSR). It is in the heart of the former Tatar quarter (as the names of the streets around it indicate). Integrated into the Russian Empire, the Tatars were present in Moscow, especially in trade. In the 20th century, they were persecuted and apart from the mosque, this district has nothing Tatar anymore. During Eid and Navrouz (Persian New Year), the whole street of the mosque is covered with carpets and worshippers.

This church behind the Red Square has a unique historical importance that is not apparent in its simple architecture and dark church. It was created within the monastery founded by Boris Godunov in 1600, before being in the eighteenth century, the breeding ground for Enlightenment education in Russia. The monastery served as the only academy in the country for the study of Latin and Greek before the creation of the Lomonosov University by one of its former students.

Before your visit to the main building of the Tretyakov Gallery, take a few minutes to enjoy the Baroque meditation of this church (Церковь Кли́мента), built in the 17th century, which is the heart of the district. It is a very popular church, where the locals go to meditate before going to work or going out in the evening, especially to listen to beautiful singing during mass. Saint Clement is highly respected and is prayed for the health of the children, the reunification of families and the return of parents.