THE
CATHEDRAL OF THE ANNUNCIATION
The cathedral of the Annunciation was built in1484 – 1489 by Pscov masons to
replace the dilapidated cathedral of the early 15-th century. It served as a
private church ( family church) of Moscow princes and later tsars. Originally
it was a small brick church with three domes. In the vaulted chambers of the
cathedral the princes used to keep their treasures. After alterations in the
16-th century the edifice became a 9-domed cathedral, magnificent and
picturesque. The domes were covered with sheets of copper and lavishly gilded
. So chroniclers had a good reason to call the church “golden-headed”. Now
this elegant edifice justifies the ancient popular nickname. It was also in
the reign of Ivan the Terrible that the south-eastern porch with the tall
staircase decorated with carved stone was built on to the cathedral. After
marrying for the fourth time the tsar could no longer appear in the church.
Such were the rules. He found a way out by having this porch built leading to
the gallery from where he could see and hear the service.
The cathedral is rather small,
so it was intended for a limited circle of worshipers. Four pillars support
the vaults. A spiral staircase built in the thickness of the wall runs to the
balcony. From the gallery (gulbische) three stone portals lead to the hall.
They are adorned with magnificent carving on white stone. A graceful ornament
of creepers, flowers and vases is covered with blue paint and edged with gilt.
The copper doors of the portals are also objects of great artistic value.
The first paintings were made in
1508 by a group of artists headed by Theodosius, son of the gifted painter
Dionisius. It was only after the restoration works done in the 50-s of the
20-th century that people were at last able to see and appreciate the
frescoes. They had been painted over five times, and were so thickly covered
with soot and grime that they were considered lost without recall. The
compositions deal with the numerous themes of the Apocalypses. They tell about
the destinies of the world and mankind, about the struggle against evil, about
the coming punishment for sins.
The gem of ancient Russian art is
the iconostasis. Seven icons of the festive tier are ascribed to Andrey Rublev
(The Nativity of Christ, “Epiphany”, “Transfiguration”). The frame of the
iconostasis was fashioned from gilded bronze in the 19-th century. An
interesting feature of the building is the floor of jasper dating back to the
reign of Ivan the Terrible.
In old times the cathedral
witnessed magnificent wedding ceremonies. It safeguarded in the stone cellars
the tsars’ wealth, among it the famous library of Ivan the Terrible.
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