Russia. Cathedrals of Moscow

1992. Scott 6096-6098. 3 sheets of 30 each

For many centuries the Assumption cathedral stayed the main Moscow church, leading religious and cultural center of Russian state. It was the Assumption cathedral where successors to the throne were crowned, metropolitan and patriarchs were elected at church councils, decrees were announced and the services before important military campaigns were held.

In the 12th century on this site a small wooden church stood. In the 14th century it was replaced by the first stone Assumption cathedral. Grand Duke Ivan Kalita, who had assured Metropolitan to move from Vladimir to Moscow, decided to rebuild the old cathedral and make it look sumptuous and majestic. The new cathedral, modeled on the Assumption Cathedral of the ancient city of Vladimir, was to demonstrate the ever-growing importance of Moscow in the life of medieval Russia. But at that time Moscow treasury was rather scanty, and the constructed Moscow church was inferior to grand Vladimir Assumption Cathedral, that for quite a long time stayed the main church of Orthodox Russia.

A year after the construction of the cathedral, Moscow became the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, and later the capital of Russia. In the early 1470s Moscow Grand Duke Ivan III commissioned the construction of the new cathedral, as the dilapidated edifice no longer fitted to be the main cathedral of mighty and prosperous city. Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti erected the cathedral in 1475-1479, modeling it after the best examples of Old Russian architecture. The well-proportioned five-dome cathedral amazed the contemporaries with its grandeur and stern serenity.

While the cathedral was meant as the main Russian Orthodox Church, the special attention was paid to its interiors. Made by best artisans of that time, the wall-paintings, numerous icons and unique church plates are reckoned among the masterpieces of world art.

Unfortunately, the original frescoes created by the famous icon painter Dionysius and his team of artists haven't preserved. In the 1640s these frescoes were painted anew. The architecture and wall-paintings of the cathedral symbolizes the universe, where the vault of the cathedral denotes the vault of heaven, resting upon the pillars. The depictions of the martyrs on the pillars are very symbolical - the great martyrs support Orthodox Church as the pillars support the vault of the cathedral.

The Assumption Cathedral treasures one of the world largest collections of the 12 - 17th century Russian icons. The majority of the icons were painted by Russian artists for Moscow churches, others were brought to the Assumption cathedral during the formation of the united Russian State.

The traditional five-tiered Russian Orthodox iconostasis dates mainly from 1653 but with several older icons incorporated into it. Its 69 icons, that are considered to be of enormous historical and artistic value, represent the history of mankind as the Bible sees it.

In front of the iconostasis stands an outstanding example of Russian applied art, the Throne of Monomakh. Meticulously carved out of wood, it was created by Novgorod artisans for Ivan the Terrible in 1551. Its tracery tent-roofed canopy is lavishly adorned with the sculptures of imaginary creatures, small pillars of different form and size, numerous rosettes and vases.

The Assumption Cathedral served as a burial place of Moscow Metropolitans and Patriarchs. The tombs with the remains of the outstanding leaders of Russian Orthodox Church are arranged along the walls of the cathedral.

During the bombardment of the Kremlin in Revolution of 1917 the cathedral suffered great damages. In 1918 Patriarch Tikhon served the last Easter liturgy and the Assumption cathedral was closed for seven decades. The church was re-opened to the public in 1990.

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