Probably the most recognizable architectural landmark of Moscow, apart from the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, can confidently be called Saint Basil's Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat.
It is a symbol not only of Moscow, but of virtually all of Russia. The cathedral, as part of Red Square, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990.
The cathedral's architecture is very expressive: the composition consists of several churches crowned with colorful painted domes, arranged at different heights.
The cathedral was built from 1555 to 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the victory over the powerful Kazan Khanate, so each altar in the churches was consecrated in honor of the feast days on which the main battles took place. Kazan fell on the feast day of the Intercession of the Mother of God – this is what gave the cathedral its original name.
The chapel of St. Basil the Blessed appeared much later, in 1588. It housed the relics of the local holy fool Basil, who died in the 1550s and was known for being feared even by Ivan the Terrible himself. Since then, the cathedral received a second dedication – in the name of St. Basil the Blessed.
With the arrival of Soviet power, the cathedral was not demolished; it was simply too beautiful and unique. For a long time there was a museum here. The cathedral returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. Services are now held here again.
