Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia

AI overview

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral located in Moscow that stands as one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. It is historically significant as a symbol of Russian Orthodox faith and has become an important religious and cultural landmark in Russia.

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Wikidata facts

Official website: xxc.ru
Image: Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg
Width: 85
Length: 85

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date of official opening: 1883-00-00
Commons category: Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
dissolved, abolished or demolished date: 1931-12-05
inception: 2000-08-19
postal code: 119019
street address: Волхонка 15, 119019 Москва, Россия
native label

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Article

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Russian: Храм Христа́ Спаси́теля, romanized: Khram Khristá Spasítelya, Russian pronunciation: [xram xrʲɪˈsta spɐˈsʲitʲɪlʲə]) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred metres southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 metres (338 ft), it is the third tallest Orthodox Christian church building in the world.

The current church is the second to stand on this site. The original church, built in the 19th century, took more than 40 years to build, and was the site of the 1882 world premiere of the 1812 Overture composed by Tchaikovsky. It was destroyed in 1931 on the order of the Soviet Politburo. The demolition was supposed to make way for a colossal Palace of the Soviets to house the country's legislature, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Construction started in 1937 but was halted in 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union during World War II. Its steel frame was disassembled the following year, and the palace was never built. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the current cathedral was constructed on the site between 1995 and 2000.