Intercession Cathedral on the Moat, better known under the name of St. Basil's Cathedral, was built in 1555-1561 in fulfilment of a vow made by Ivan IV before the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. The unique project of an edifice consisting of many chapels, conceived by Metropolitan Makari, was meant to embody the image of Heavenly Jerusalem. Intercession Cathedral became the symbol of Russian architecture. The building houses the holy relics of two famous Moscow wonderworkers - Basil the Holy Fool and Ivan nicknamed "Big Cap".
Intercession Cathedral on the Moat, better known under the name of St. Basil's Cathedral, was built in 1555-1561 in fulfilment of a vow made by Ivan IV before the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. The unique project of an edifice consisting of many chapels, conceived by Metropolitan Makari, was meant to embody the image of Heavenly Jerusalem. Intercession Cathedral became the symbol of Russian architecture. The building houses the holy relics of two famous Moscow wonderworkers - Basil the Holy Fool and Ivan nicknamed "Big Cap".
