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ARCHANGEL CATHEDRAL
1505-08
Erected, like the Annunciation Cathedral, on the brow of Boro-vitsky Hill, it completes the cluster of the Kremlin buildings standing on the hill. The north and west facades of the cathedral face the ancient Cathedral Square, while the south facade overlooks the River Moskva. Elegant and festive, the cathedral reminds one more of a palace than a church.
Archangel Cathedral
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The second largest church in the Kremlin, the Archangel Cathedral was built by the Italian architect Alevisio Novi. Construction began during the reign of Ivan III and was completed in that of his son. Grand Prince Basil III.
The architect and sculptor Al-oiso Lamberti da Montagnano, who became known in Russia as Alevisio Novi, accepted an invitation from Ivan Ill's envoys to come to Moscow and work in the Kremlin. He joined the Russian embassy in 1500, but he did not see the Russian capital until three years later. The embassy was delayed by the Crimean Khan Mengli-Gherai, who took advantage of the Italian architect's presence and ordered him to build a palace in Bakhchisarai. Only after Ivan Ill's insistent demands did Mengli-Gherai allow Alevisio Novi and the rest of the embassy to travel on to Moscow.
The Italian architect began to build the Archangel Cathedral on the spot where, legend has it, the wooden Church of the Archangel Michael stood. In 1333 this church was replaced by a white-stone cathedral of the same name. The consecration of churches to the Archangel Michael, the leader of the Heavenly Host, was very widespread in old Russia. He was regarded as the patron saint of the Russian warriors who battled against foreign invaders. Legend links the beginning of the cathedral's construction with the deliverance of Moscow from starvation.
In 1340 Ivan the Moneybag, the first ruler of Moscow to assume the title of Grand Prince, was buried in the cathedral. After that the cathedral acquired the significance of the state necropolis. During the Middle Ages the worshipping of one's ancestors was a widespread cult in Moscow, as in the rest of Russia. It played an important political role by justifying ideologically the inheritance of land and power. This explains the long-standing tradition for the Moscow princes and tsars to go to the Archangel Cathedral and worship the relics of their ancestors after coronations or before setting off on a military campaign.
So, in 1505 the Italian architect Alevisio Novi began building the new burial vault of the princes and tsars. Construction was completed in 1508. The new cathedral showed clear features of the Italian palazzo age of the Renaissance, although Alevisio Novi, to a greater extent than Fioravanti, reproduced the characteristic composition and construction of the Russian church, a circle inscribed in a cross.
The Vladimir-Suzdalian prototype was robed in the decorative attire of the Renaissance by the Italian architect. Unlike the strictly monumental Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral was sumptuous and artistically impressive. The walls were made of red brick. Above the black-tiled barrel-vaulted roof rose intricate flowers of carved white stone. The main dome was helmet-shaped. The massive buttresses and later additions to the east facade were part of the original building. An open arcaded gallery surrounded the cathedral on three sides, a feature which although possessing some analogy with the galleries of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, was undoubtedly inspired by memories of Italian courtyards. During state ceremonies in Cathedral Square this gallery served as a kind of tribune for honoured guests.
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