Saint Blessed Vasily. St Basil's Church

One of the most interesting and beautiful sights of the Russian capital is the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed (photo below), also known as the Church of the Intercession of Our Lady, built in the 16th century by the order of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. Almost every person in the country knows that he is in Red Square, but not everyone knows the history of his erection and the legends associated with him. But still only a little will be known about the cathedral. The saint, in whose honor the chapel was built, and later the temple itself was named, bore the name of St. Basil the Blessed. The history of his life, deeds and death is no less interesting than the story of the construction of the cathedral.

Creator Versions

The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed (his photo is decorated with many postcards for tourists) was erected in the period from 1555 to 1561 in memory of the capture of the city-fortress of Kazan by Tsar Ivan Vasilievich. There are many versions of who was the original creator of this monument of architecture. Let's consider only three basic variants. The first of these is the architect Postnik Yakovlev, who bore the nickname Barma. This was the famous at that time Pskov master. The second option is Barma and Postnik. These are two architects who participated in the construction of this temple. And the third - the cathedral was erected by some unknown Western European master, presumably from Italy.

The latest version is supported by the fact that most of the Kremlin buildings were built by people from this country. The unique style in which the church of St. Basil the Blessed was created (the photo shows it perfectly) harmoniously united the traditions of Russian and European architecture. But it should be noted at once that this version has absolutely no documentary confirmation.

There is also a legend according to which all the architects who worked on the temple project were deprived of sight on the orders of Ivan the Terrible - for the purpose that they could never again build anything like that. But there is one problem here. If the author of the temple is still Postnik Yakovlev, then he could not be blinded. Only a few years later he worked also on the creation of the Kremlin in Kazan.

Structure of the temple

The cathedral has only ten domes: nine of them are located above the main building, and one - above the bell tower. It includes eight temples. Their thrones are consecrated only in honor of those holidays in the days of which the decisive battles for Kazan took place. All eight churches are located around the highest ninth, which has a pillar-shaped structure. It is built in honor of the covering of the Mother of God and ends with a tent with a small cupola. The other domes of St. Basil look at first glance traditionally. They have an onion shape, but differ from each other in their design. All nine temples stand on a common base and are interconnected by vaulted internal passages and a bypass gallery, which in the original version was open.

In 1558, a chapel was added to the Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God, which was consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed. He was erected in the place where the relics of this saint used to be. Also his name gave the cathedral a second name. About 20 years later the church got its tent bell tower.

First floor - podklet

I must say that the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed (photo, of course, it does not show) does not have a basement. All the components of his church stand on the same basis, called the podlet. It is a structure with fairly thick (up to 3 m) walls, divided into several rooms, the height of which is more than 6 m.

The northern podlet has, you can say, a unique design for the 16th century. Its arch is made in the form of a box without support pillars, despite the fact that it has a long extension. In the walls of this room there are narrow holes, called blows. Thanks to them, a special microclimate is created here, which remains unchanged throughout the year.

Once all the premises of the podklet were inaccessible to the parishioners. These deep niches in the form of niches were used as storage facilities. They used to be closed with doors. But now only loops remained of them. Up to 1595, the sub-treasury kept the tsar's treasury and the most valuable property of wealthy townspeople.

To get into these previously secret rooms of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, it was necessary to pass through the white stone inner staircase, which only the initiates knew. Later, as unnecessary, this move was laid and forgotten about it, but in the 30s of the last century it was accidentally discovered.

The chapel, organized in honor of Basil Blessed

It is a church of a cubic form. It is covered with a criss-crossed vault with a small light drum, crowned with a cupola. The very cover of this temple is made in the same style as the upper churches of the cathedral. Here on the wall there is a stylized inscription. She reports that the Church of St. Basil the Blessed was annexed in 1588 directly above the burial of the saint immediately after his canonization by the order of Tsar Feodor Ivanovich.

In 1929 the church was closed for worship. Only at the end of the last century, its decorative decoration was finally restored. The memory of Basil the Blessed is read on August 15. It was this date of 1997 that was the initial one for the resumption of worship in his church. Today, over the very burial of the saint is cancer with its relics, adorned with fine carvings. This Moscow shrine is the most revered among parishioners and visitors of the temple.

The decoration of the church

I must admit that it is impossible in one article to reproduce in words all the beauties with which St. Basil's Cathedral is famous. The description would take many weeks, perhaps months. Let us dwell only on details of the decoration of the church, consecrated in honor of this saint.

Its oil painting was timed precisely for the 350th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of the cathedral. On the southern and northern walls depicts Basil the Blessed. Pictures from his life represent episodes of a miracle with a fur coat and salvation at sea. Below them, on the lower tier, is an ancient Russian ornament made of towels. In addition, on the south side of the church hangs a large-scale icon, the picture of which is made on a metal surface. This masterpiece was written in 1904.

The western wall is decorated with the temple image of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The upper tier contains images of saints who patronize the royal house. This is the martyr Irina, John the Baptist, Saint Anastasia and Fedor Stratilat.

The sails of the vault are occupied with the image of the Evangelists, the cross - with the Savior Not Made by Hands, John the Baptist and the Mother of God, the drum is decorated with figures of the forefathers, and the dome - with the Savior the Almighty.

As for the iconostasis, it was designed according to the project of the famous architect A. M. Pavlinov in 1895, and the icon painter Osip Chirikov, the famous Moscow restorer and icon painter, supervised the writing of the icons. His original autograph was preserved on one of the icons. In addition, the iconostasis still has more vintage images. The first is the icon "Our Lady of Smolensk" dating back to the 16th century, and the second - the image of St. Basil the Blessed, where he is depicted on the background of the Red Square and the Kremlin. The latter dates from the 18th century.

Bell tower

In the middle of the XVII century, the previously built belfry was in terrible condition. Therefore, it was decided to change it to the bell tower in the 80s of the same century. By the way, it still stands. The base for the bell tower is a tall and massive quadrilateral. On top of it is erected a more elegant and openwork octagon, made in the form of an open area, which is enclosed by eight pillars, and they, in turn, are connected at the top by arched spans.

The belfry is crowned with an octagonal rather high tent with ribs decorated with colorful tiles with blue, white, brown and yellow glaze. Its edges are covered with green figured shingles and small windows that, when the bells ring, can greatly enhance their sound. At the very top of the tent is a small bulbous glock with a gilded cross. Inside the site, as well as in arched openings, bells that were cast in the 17th-19th centuries by famous Russian masters were suspended.

The Museum

The Intercession Cathedral in 1918 was recognized by the Soviet authorities as a historical monument of architecture not only of national but also of international importance and taken under state protection. It was then that he was considered a museum. His first supervisor was John Kuznetsov (archpriest). I must say that after the revolution, the temple was, without exaggeration, in a very distressed situation: almost all the glass had been knocked out, the roof in many places was leaking, and in winter, snow drifts lay directly inside the premises.

Five years later, on the basis of the cathedral, it was decided to create a historical and architectural complex. Its first head was EI Silin, a researcher at the Moscow Historical Museum. Already on May 21 the temple was visited by the first visitors. Since that time work began on staffing the fund.

The museum called "The Intercession Cathedral" in 1928 turned into a branch of the Historical Museum. A year later the church was officially closed for worship and all the bells were taken off. In the 30-ies of the last century, rumors spread that he was going to be demolished. But he still managed to avoid such a fate. Despite the fact that the restoration work has been going on for almost a century , the church is always open to Muscovites and guests of the capital. For all the time the museum was closed only once, when the Great Patriotic War was going on.

After the end of the war, all measures were immediately taken to restore the cathedral, so the museum again earned its mark on the 800th anniversary of the capital. He gained wide popularity during the Soviet Union. It should be noted that the museum was well known not only in the USSR, but also in many other countries. Since 1991, the temple is in the use of both the Orthodox Church and the State Historical Museum. After a long break, the services were finally resumed.

Saint's childhood

The future Moscow miracle worker Blessed Vasili was born at the very end of 1468. According to the legend, this happened right on the porch of the Elokhov temple, erected in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. His parents were ordinary people. When he grew up, he was given training in shoemaking. Over time, his mentor began to notice that Basil is not like all other children.

An example of his eccentricity can serve as such a case: somehow one merchant brought bread to Moscow and, seeing the workshop, went to order his boots. At the same time, he asked that he not be able to demolish shoes in a year. Hearing these words, Blessed Vasily wept and promised that the merchant would not even have time to stop these boots. When the master understood nothing from the boy, why did he think so, the child explained to his teacher that the customer would not be able to put on boots, since he would soon die. This prophecy came true in a few days.

Recognition of holiness

When Basil was 16 years old, he moved to Moscow. It was here that his thorny path began as a holy fool. According to eyewitnesses, Blessed Basil walked the streets of the capital barefoot and naked almost all year round, regardless of whether there was a fierce crackling frost or a summer scorching heat.

Strange was considered not only his appearance, but also his deeds. For example, passing by market stalls, he could shed a vessel filled with kvass, or overturn a counter with rollers. For this, Basil the Blessed was often a bit disgruntled by traders. Strange as it sounds, he was always happy to take beatings and even thanked God for them. But as it turned out later, the poured kvass was unsuitable, and the kalachi were badly baked. Over time, it was recognized not only as a denouncer of untruth, but a man of God and a holy fool.

Here is another case from the life of a saint. One day a merchant decided to build a stone church in Moscow, on Pokrovka. But for some reason its vaults thrice thrust. He came to St. Basil the Blessed to seek advice on this matter. But he sent him to Kiev, to the wretched John. Upon arrival in the city, the merchant found the person he needed in a poor house. John sat and rocked the cradle, in which there was no one. The merchant asked him who he was still shaking. To this the wretched replied to him that he was lulling his mother for his birth and upbringing. Only then did the merchant remember his mother, whom he had once expelled from his house. It immediately became clear to him why he could not finish building the church. Returning to Moscow, the merchant found his mother, asked for her forgiveness and took him home. After that, he easily managed to complete the church.

The Wonderworker's Acts

Blessed Basil always preached kindness to his neighbors and helped those who were ashamed to ask for alms, while in need of help more than others. On this occasion, there is a description of one case when he gave all the royal things given to him by a visiting foreign merchant who, by chance, lost absolutely everything. The merchant had not eaten for several days, but could not ask for help, since he had expensive clothes on.

St. Basil the Blessed always strongly condemned those who gave alms based on mercenary motives, and not out of compassion for poverty and misfortune. For the sake of his neighbors, he even went to the taverns, where he consoled and tried to encourage the most descended people, seeing in them the seeds of kindness. This fool has so cleansed his soul with prayers and great deeds that he was given the gift of foresight. In 1547, Blessed managed to predict the great fire that happened in Moscow, and with his prayer he extinguished the flames in Novgorod. Also, his contemporaries claimed that Vasili reproached Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible once, as he thought about the construction of his palace on the Sparrow Hills during the service.

The saint died on August 2, 1557. The then Moscow Metropolitan Makarii with his clergy performed the burial of Basil. He was buried near the Trinity Church, where in 1555 they began to build the Intercession Cathedral in memory of the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. 31 years later, on August 2, this saint was glorified by the Council, headed by Patriarch Job.

His contemporaries described him roughly the same way, and he mentioned three features: he was extremely thin, wore a minimum of clothes and always had a staff in his hand. This is how Vasily the Blessed appears before us. Photos of icons and pictures with his image are presented in this article.

The veneration of this holy wonder-worker among the people was so great that the Pokrovsky cathedral began to be called by his name. By the way, his beliefs are still being preserved in the Spiritual Academy of the capital. Anyone who wants to admire the beautiful monument of medieval architecture can find it at the address: Moscow, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral.