"Cathedral of Christ the Saviour"

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the main church of Russia, one of the 5 biggest and most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. It was built as a thanksgiving to God for saving Russia in the Patriotic War of 1812, and in commemoration of the Russian army’s victory over Napoleon.

Reconstruction of the Cathedral 

From that time onwards the Cathedral had remained a symbol of Moscow till it was demolished in 1931 by the personal Stalin’s order so that “the most important building in the country” – the Palace of Soviets, could be put up there.  But the Palace, a gigantic tower crowned with a colossal statue to Lenin, that would be the tallest building in Russia and the world, was never constructed as after the Great Patriotic War the time for monumental monstrosities sank into oblivion. A swimming pool was constructed in 1958 on the site of the Cathedral. 

View of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour as seen from the Moskva river embankment

During the Perestroika time the idea of  reconstructing the Cathedral grew from the depth of the national consciousness as the meaning of the Cathedral is so profound for the Russian soul, for it reminds everyone that Russia has many times been preserved by God on the occasions when all that remained was faith in his salvation. Now the majestic golden domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour once again tower above Moscow.

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