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Kazan Cathedral photo by PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ –

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about Kazan Cathedral Moscow

Kazan Cathedral Moscow was formerly known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan. It is a Russian Orthodox church located on the northwest corner of Red Square in Moscow. The Cathedral was initially built in 1625. In 1936 it was destroyed and reconstruction was done in 1993.

It was originally built in honor of the Icon of the Our Lady of Kazan. It was originally built of wood to celebrate Moscow’s recovery from Polish invaders. The original structure of the cathedral was built by Prince Dmitry Pozhasky. In the article top ten unbelievable facts about Kazan Cathedral Moscow.

1. The destruction of the Cathedral in 1936

The cathedral was among the buildings destroyed during the rule of Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader. He led the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953. He consolidated power to become a dictator and was one of the influencers of WW2.

If you make a follow-up in our articles, the cathedral was not the only building destroyed during the time of Joseph Stalin. Two Monastery buildings in the Kazan Kremlin complex were also destroyed. The buildings destroyed were the Church of Saint Nicholas, and the Cathedral of the Savior’S Transfiguration.

2. Dimitry Pozharsky is credited for the building of the church

A photo of a mosaic in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral by Reda Kerbush –

It was upon recovering Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1612 that Prince Dmitry made plans to build the church. He accredited his success to the divine help of the icon Our lady of Kazan during the invasion of Moscow.

Prince Dmitry had prayed to the divine icon Theotokos of Kazan “also Our Lady Of Kazan” on several occasions. He financed the construction of the wooden church to the Virgin of Kazan from his private funds.

3. The wooden church was caught up in a fire scandal

A portrait of Tsar Mikhail I – ordered the church be built in Brick by Johann Vedikind –

The diminutive shrine has been destroyed twice since its establishment in 1625. The first time was during the fire of 1632 and the ruling of Stalin when the cathedral was invaded.

Tsar Michael I, the first Russian tsar of the house of Romanov, ordered the destroyed structure to be replaced with a brick church. This was a great renovation ” from wooden to brick” The one-doomed large-imposing building featured several tiers of kokoshniki, a wide gallery, and a tented was constructed in October 1636.

4. Many of the original designs of the church were lost due to renovations

A photo of Kazan Cathedral Moscow as of 1882 by N. A. Naydenov –

Kazan Cathedral was considered one of the most important churches in Moscow. An anniversary of Moscow’s liberation from Poland-Lithuania was done by the Kremlin. A solemn parade led by the Patriarch and the Tsar carried a processional cross.

By the end of the 17th century, the church building was expanded and received a bell tower. Its entrance was redesigned. Most of the renovations of the cathedral were done during the imperial period. Notably, it was during the imperial period of 1801, 1805, and 1865.

5. The history of the cathedral was tempestuous

To be tempestuous is by being characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotions. The cathedral was claimed to be tempestuous with evidence that Avvakum, the archpriest, led the party of Old Believers.

Old Believers are also called religious dissenters or Old Ritualists. Old Believers are Eastern Orthodox Christians that maintain the liturgical and ritual practices of the Russian Orthodox Church. They follow the ritual culture as they were before the reforms of Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666.

The Old Christians resisted the accommodation of Russian piety to the contemporary reforms of Greek Orthodox worship. These Christians were detested or shunned together with their ritual in a Synod of 1666-67.

Eastern Europe, therefore, was divided between Old Believers and those who followed the state church.

6. The exterior reconstruction of the church was done in 1929-32

Kazan Cathedral Moscow by Maksym Kozlenko –

Peter Baronovsky was behind the exterior reconstruction of Kazan Cathedral Moscow. He was a Russian architect, preservationist ad restorator. He constructed many ancient buildings in the Soviet Union.

The cathedral as an ancient building needed reconstruction to preserve it. The distinguished restorator supervised the reconstruction. Some specialists, however, found that the accuracy of this reconstruction was missing.

7. Complete restoration of the Kazan Cathedral Moscow was done in 1990-93

A photo of a replica of ancient Kazan Cathedral Moscow by

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kazan Cathedral was the first church to be completely rebuilt after ben destroyed by the Communists. Keep in mind that it was under the order of Stalin that Red Square be cleared of churches. This was to prepare space for holding military parades of the Soviet Union in 1936.

8. Art was used in the restoration of the church

Moscow city branch of the All-Russian Society for Historic Preservation and Cultural Organization funded the restoration of the church. The restorators used detailed measurements and photographs of the original church.

Photography is a form of art! They can create an original impression. It has originality and high precision and this is evident because the church was restored o its original form after renovations by use of photographs and measurements.

9. The cathedral is used as a Religious centre

A photo of people at the entrance of Kazan Cathedral Moscow by jimmyweee –

Before its destruction in 1936, the cathedral has used building and served as the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. Nowadays, the cathedral is fully restored for religious services, which are held daily.

10. It one of the most important churches in Moscow

It is evident that the church is important in Russia. It is used to commemorate Moscow’s recovery from the Poland-Lithuania invasion. This was with the help of the divine Our Lady of Kazan as Prince Dmitry believed.

I recommend you to visit the Cathedral since it is open to the public. Get to enjoy listening to the Russian Orthodox chant. The entire service, except for the sermon, is sung. Photography is also allowed whichever time you want either daytime or nighttime. Also, don’t forget to see a copy of the icon of the Kazan virgin which was restored in the church.