The Cathedral of the Annunciation

Graceful nine-headed with gold domes The Cathedral of the Annunciation is located in a southwest part of the Cathedral Square. The cathedral was built in 1484-1489 by the Pskov masters as a house fortress of great Moscow prince. Originally the temple was small and was ended with three chapters. In 60th years of XVI century four one-headed churches were built above galleries of the cathedral and two false - thus, the cathedral became a nine-head construction.

The cathedral was connected to a palace with a special transition. During the solemn ceremonies which passed on the Cathedral Square, the temple served as a gala output from a palace of prince (after tsar) and his retinues. The cathedral was constructed in traditions of early Moscow architecture. But as it was built by constructors from Pskov, there are features of the Pskov architecture: an octahedron under the central drum, original belts on chapters and many other decorative elements.

Here are two entrances to the temple with high porch which lead from the Cathedral Square. The enter into the cathedral lays through a northern porch and leads to a gallery which walls are painted by frescos on bible themes (“The Miracle With Prophet Ion”, “Pleased About You”, “Trinity”, “The Tree of Isey”, “Feats of monastic hermits” and others).

In piers, on slopes of the arches and on pilasters antique philosophers and writers are represented in full growth: Aristotle, Fukidid, Plutarch, Homer, Vergilius and others - educated people in Russia were acquainted with their products at that times. From a gallery through a portal decorated by a white stone groove, it is possible to get to the central part of the temple

The biggest value of the cathedral is the iconostasis. Icons in the iconostasis are located in five rows. The third row is called “Celebratory” - on its icons various Christian holidays are represented. Seven icons from the left part of the row (except the fourth, it was painted by the unknown Pskov master of XVI century) – “The Annunciation”, “Christmas”, “Candlemas Day”, “Epiphany”, “Transfiguration”, “The Resurrection Of Lazarus” and “Coming to Jerusalem” - Andrey Rublyov's brushes belong.

Other icons in this row of the iconostasis – “The Lord's Supper”, "Crucifix”, “Coffin”, “Dejection Into Hell”, “Rise”, “Dejection Of The Holy Spirit”, “The Assumption” - are executed by Prokhor from Gorodets.

The main row of the iconostasis - Deisus (from the Greek word “deisus” - prayer). It is located below Celebratory. The main theme of the row – protection by sacred (they are represented in full growth) for mere mortals to the God. Most of the icons of this row (except “Archangel Michael” and “Apostle Peter”) were written by Feofan Greek.

Considerable interest is also represented with the mural of the cathedral executed in 1508 by artel of artists, headed by Feodosy, the son glorified Dionisy. Here you can find traditional motives, and new, that were typical for XVI century. The big place in paintings was borrowed with plots on a theme of the Apocalypse (from the right and to the left of an iconostasis on the arches under choruses and on the arches supporting choruses). Besides bible plots on the wall-paitings of the cathedral it is possible to see even secular motives - the image of the Byzantian emperors and Russian princes (columns of the central part of a temple and pilasters).

At the western wall, according to custom, choruses for tsarina and imperial children were arranged. The cathedral floor has a very unusual look. In days of Ivan the Terrible (Grozniy) the floor was laid out by tiles from precious agatelike jasper. The wall-paiting with the image of The Saviour not Man-made which is situated above on the exit of the cathedral is made by well-known Russian painter of XVII century Simon Ushakov.