Saint Basil's Cathedral: History and Architecture of Moscow's Greatest Church

St. Basil's Cathedral, also called “The Cathedral of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat,” or the “Temple of Saint Basil the Blessed,” is an Eastern Orthodox Church in Moscow, Russia. The cathedral is a popular search on Wikipedia not only because it is a marvel of architecture, but because it serves as an important edifice for Orthodox Christians around the world. A major tourist attraction, the Cathedral gets more visitors every year than any other historical site in Moscow.

Sitting on the Red Square, St. Basil's western facade faces the Kremlin, where the preserved corpse of Vladimir Lenin lies entombed for onlookers to see. Although the Red Square is typically packed with tourists, many native Russians also frequent the area, especially at the end of the work day. By sunset, most tourists will have left only to be replaced by hundreds of Russians just finishing work. At that time, surrounded by natives, the “real” Red Square experience comes alive. The colorful spires and cupolas of St. Basil become even more stunning when framed against a setting sun.