This was built in the so-called Tsarina's half of the palace by Ale-visio Novi at the end of the fifteenth century. At the end of the following century it was decorated for Tsarina Irina, the wife of Tsar Theodore. The arches of the semibasement are clearly visible on the facade which faces Cathedral Square. During restoration work fragments of older architecture with features characteristic of the Italian Renaissance were discovered.

Golden Tsarina Chamber

      This chamber was used as the Tsarina's audience-room. Tsarina Irina received Archbishop Arse-nius here when he came to Moscow in 1589 to attend the celebrations on the occasion of the setting up of an independent patriarchate in Russia. It was he who left us the first description of the interior, the walls and vaults of which, he wrote, "were covered with gold and shone". The chamber maybe got its name from the gold background of the painting.
      The subject matter of the painting was determined by the chamber's function. On the walls are episodes from the lives of the Byzantine empresses Helen, Irene and Theodora, the legendary Queen Tamar of Georgia and the Russian Princess Olga. In particular, there are the scenes of Olga's christening, her journey to Byzantium, her clever refusal of the Byzantine Emperor's offer of dynastic marriage and her return to Kiev.
      During restoration work a fragment of the old painting on a golden background came to light. It showed a group of galloping horsemen in armour and helmets with spears in their hands, part of a composition illustrating the victory of the Christian Host over the infidels.

Select Hall or Chamber St. George Hall St. Vladimir Hall Conference Hall St. Catherine Hall Sacred Vestibule Of The Chamber Of Facets Chamber Of Facets Golden Tsarina Chamber Terem Palace