Saint Basil's Cathedral

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed (also known as Saint Basil's Cathedral) is a former Orthodox church (now museum) located in the very heart of Moscow, on the Red Square. It is considered one of the most popular cultural symbols of Russia. It’s official name is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat (or Pokrovsky Cathedral).

The legend has it that Tsar Ivan the Terrible made a vow that he would build a church if the Kazan Khanate was captured, so in 1561 the Cathedral was finished (it took only 6 years to build it). The vibrant colors of Saint Basil's Cathedral were added later by the restoration artists of the Russian Empire period.

The museum collection of the Cathedral consists of 9 icon screens with approximately 400 icons of different eras of Russia, as well as dozens of portrait and landscape paintings, frescoes and decorations. To top it off, the Cathedral boasts a huge collection of bells not only from Russia, but also from France, Germany and Netherlands.