5 most beautiful churches and cathedrals in and around Moscow

1. The Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos, popularly known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed.

Built on the order of Ivan IV of Russia to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan, it marks the geometric center of the city and the hub of its growth since the 14th century. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. The Moscow Kremlin churches and cathedrals.

Cathedral Square is the heart of the Kremlin. It is surrounded by several religious buildings, including three cathedrals of XV XVI centuries, four churches and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (81 meters high). The tower was the tallest structure in the city, as construction of buildings taller than that was forbidden. Its 21 bells would sound the alarm if any enemy was approaching. The Tsar bell, the largest bell in the world, stands on a pedestal next to the tower. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The Cathedral lies on the bank of the Moskva River, a few blocks west of the Kremlin. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world. The original Cathedral had been built in 1839—1883, but was demolished during the Soviet time. Rebuilt once again, it is the main and largest cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, having a capacity for some 10000 people.

4. The Novodevichy Convent.

This is probably the best-known cloister of Moscow. This beautiful fortress was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site too.

5. Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye.

The Church of the Ascension was built in 1532 on the imperial estate of Kolomenskoye, near Moscow, to celebrate the birth of the prince who was to become Tsar Ivan IV (“the Terrible”). One of the earliest examples of a traditional wooden tent-roofed church on a stone and brick substructure, it had a great influence on the development of Russian ecclesiastical architecture. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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