Top 10 Interesting Facts about Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow, Russia. Author Vyacheslav Argenberg. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior part of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the Russian capital, Moscow, within walking distance from Red Square and Alexander Garden, on the Moscow River, at the address: Volkhonka Street, 15-17.

1. It Was Constructed During The Napoleon Invasion, Also Known As The Patriotic War Of 1812

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Author Vyacheslav Argenberg. Wikimedia Commons

From the history books, we are told that the temple was constructed during the Napoleon invasion, known in Russia as the Patriotic war of 1812 to signify. Russia’s victory in that war. The Russians also see it as a national monument to express the nation’s gratitude to Christ Jesus for saving them.

The construction of the church is said to have lasted almost 44 years from September 23, 1839. In between, due to the devastation of the war and Stalin’s reconstruction of the city, the temple building was destroyed and rebuilt again in 1994-199 9 in the pseudo-Russian style, which is what stands at the present time as compared to the previous architecture.

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2. In 1931, It Was Blown To Pieces To Make Way for a Proposed Palace Of Soviets

Due to the expansion program by the Soviet Leader, Joseph Stalin and, in 1931, It was identified as one of the buildings to be destroyed to make way for a proposed Palace of Soviets, one of the most influential pieces of architecture that was never to be built.

After frequent persuasions, In 1990, the Russian Orthodox Church received permission from the Soviet government to rebuild the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It is said that more than one million Muscovites donated money towards this noble course and work on the new cathedral started in 1995.

3. The Temple Also Acts As A Symbol And Monument To The Russian People For Their Courage And Heroism Shown During The Armed Actions

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Russian Orthodox cathedral. Author Vyacheslav Argenberg. Wikimedia Commons

The rebuilding project was run jointly by the city government of Moscow and the Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Both the Mayor and the Patriarch were eager to demonstrate to the people their ability to symbolically affect a reversal of years of Soviet influence over the city and the Church, respectively.

As pointed earlier, it was built as an object of gratitude to God for his help and intercession during a difficult period in the history of Russia during the Napoleonic invasion during the Patriotic War of 1812.

The Russians also consider it  a symbol and monument to the citizens for their courage and heroism shown during the armed actions.

More amazing facts can also be found in this article

4. The Building is Made Of White Marble And Granite With Glittering Golden Domes

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow, Russia. Author Vyacheslav Argenberg. Wikimedia Commons

Made of white marble and granite with glittering golden domes. This unique piece of architecture and design enables it to stand as the most impressive ecclesiastical building in Moscow and is considered a symbol of revival and hope, while still maintaining its status as one of the tallest Orthodox Churches in the world with an overall height of 103 meters (338 feet).

The interior decoration is breathtaking, with the cathedral being adorned with elaborate frescoes which extend over the entire surface of the walls.

The design documentation reveals that the main iconostasis was the organizing principle for the Cathedral’s interior space. Thanks to serious scholarly investigations it was possible to restore the main iconostasis with maximal authenticity.

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5. All Major Anniversaries And Celebrations Are Held In The Cathedral Of Christ The Savior

All major anniversaries and celebrations are held in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. This makes it one of the main attractions of the city, and forms an integral part not only of the religious life of Moscow, but also serves as part of the culture and socio-political life of the whole country.

Notably, In 2000 the cathedral was the venue for the Canonization of the Romanovs when the last Tsar Nicholas II and his family were glorified as saints.

6. The Cathedral Of Christ The Savior Is Extremely Large

The Cathedral of Christ The Savior. Author Vitt Guziy. Wikimedia Commons

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is extremely large that it can hold up to 10,000 worshipers at any given time. It usually fills to capacity during religious holidays like Easter or Christmas.

As you move around the huge building you will be puzzled by the scenes of religious or historical significance. Particularly interesting are the statues of the various Russian patron saints and battle scenes from the War of 1812 (for which the church was fist commissioned).

Read more about Top 10 fascinating facts about St. Nicholas Cathedral, Nice 

7. The Most Beautiful View Of The Cathedral Of Christ The Savior Opens From the Patriarchal Bridge

The most beautiful view of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior opens from the Patriarchal Bridge. It is from this point that you can see the Temple in all its glory, without any slopes or angles.

You can access the Cathedral by metro in Kropotkin kaya. You can also get to the metro stations Teatralnaya, Okhotny Ryad, Alexandrovsky Garden or Arbatskaya, and then walk to the Cathedral, at the same time while seeing other main attractions of the country, such as Manezhnaya Square, Revolution Square, Mausoleum, Moscow Kremlin and Alexander Garden.

By the way, the Patriarchal Bridge in Moscow is also viewed among the top ten main attractions of the city.

8. The Architecture Resembles The Traditional Moscow Architecture Of The Nineteenth Century

The architecture of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior resembles the traditional Moscow architecture of the nineteenth century. In the dark, It is illuminated by lamps of the original shape, built into the bridge canvases.

9. The Cathedral Has 4 Bells

The Cathedral has 4 bells: A large Solemn one, its mass is 29.8 tons, you can hear its ringing only 4 times a year on the greatest Orthodox holidays, Festive, its voice can be heard on the days of the twelve-hundredth holidays, a Polyeleum weighing 9.2 tons and a 5-ton Weekday.

10. It Has Several Entrances And Exits

It has several entrances and exits. The main one is from Volkhonka Street. Don’t forget that entrance to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is free of charge, while passage is through security and metal detectors. It is also forbidden to shoot and photograph in the Temple, so there are no photos of the interior decoration. But to tell, we will tell.

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