Annunciation Cathedral

The Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

and Exposition of Icons

Private church of the Russian Grand Princes and Tsars

This Russian Orthodox church is dedicated to the annunciation of Theotokos.  It is located on the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin and connects directly to the main building of the Grand Kremlin Palace by staircase.  It was originally the personal chapel of the Muscovite tsars.  It was built by architects from Pskov in 1484-1489 as part of Grand Duke Ivan III's plan for a large-scale renovation of the Moscow Kremlin.  It was built on the spot of an earlier cathedral which had replaced a 13th century wooden church.  Ivan the Terrible chose it as his personal chapel.  Originally there were three domes.  After a fire in 1547, restoration took place and an addition of four chapels were added so that there were now nine domes.  Over the years, church treasures have been lost, during the occupation of Moscow or by fires.  It has been used as barracks and damaged during the Russian Revolution.  It was closed by the Bolshevik regime.  In the 1960's it was preserved as a museum.  After 1992 occasional religious services resumed.  From the time of Ivan the Terrible's coronation as Tsar, members of the royal family worshiped here, were married and baptized their children here.  

what it looks like on a sunny day

I finally found a sign in English!

from Cathedral Square in the winter

Domes and the roof are covered by gilded copper.

The interior of the cathedral isn't vast.  There are only four columns, a wall of iconostasis, a balcony and a central drum.

 During centuries, icons and liturgical objects were created especially for the Annunciation Cathedral.  A side gallery presently exhibits these sacred objects.  

floor tiles of the main chapel

The multi-tier iconostasis of the cathedral is one of the oldest surviving in Russia.  It includes almost a hundred icons situated in six rows.  

Copper gate - a rare technique was used for decorating them.  Door leafs are covered with copper plates decorated with golden images of the Annunciation, of prophets and of philosophers.

Picture-taking was not allowed inside.

Virtual Tour:  http://annunciation-cathedral.kreml.ru/en-Us/virtual-tour/

About the museum:  www.kreml.ru/en-Us/about-museums/kremlin/

Or see:  Museums of the Moscow Kremlin

Visited: Saturday, November 21, 2015