Orthodox
Churches and Monasteries in Moscow

The Moscow Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church officially includes about 1,000 churches and chapels. However, this count leaves out inactive churches, many of which are beautiful monuments of architecture. The true masterpiece is the St Basil's Cathedral.

The Novospassky stauropegic monastery is one of the largest active monastic cloisters in Moscow. Every day it welcomes a great number of believers seeking spiritual guidance. Moscow Transfiguration Cathedral is the main cathedral of this monastery.

The Saint Basil's Cathedral dates back to the era of Ivan the Terrible. It is the most famous symbol of medieval Russian architecture. This ornate complex of nine churches built on a common foundation occupies the vast expanse of Red Square in Moscow.

The Donskoy Monastery is one of the largest and most important in Moscow. In the 20th century the surviving fragments of destroyed architectural landmarks were brought to the monastery grounds, among them high reliefs from the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

For many centuries, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower situated in the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square remained the tallest landmark in Moscow. The Bell Tower took its definite shape in the early 17th century during the reign of Boris Godunov. Its height is up to 81 m.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the largest Orthodox cathedral in Russia. This majestic Moscow cathedral erected on the bank of the Moskva River opposite the Kremlin was built to gratify God for saving Russia from Napoleon’s army invasion.

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments in Moscow, a true masterpiece of the 16th–17th cent., that played a crucial role in the history of Russia. The Novodevichy Convent is an example of Moscow Baroque architecture.

Marfo-Mariinsky Convent is a female stavropegic monastery and one of the most visited in Moscow. Located in Zamoskvorechye, this beautiful convent has a unique look, being an incredibly unique example of Art Modern church architecture in Moscow.

The Danilov Monastery is one of the largest and oldest functioning monasteries in the Russian capital. The main cathedral of this Moscow monastery is the Trinity Cathedral built in the early 19th century. Most probably it was designed by architect Osip Bove.

The Church of the Deposition of the Robe is situated behind the Dormition Cathedral of the Kremlin in Russia. Its 17th-century interior successfully combines architectural design, mural paintings and iconography, notable for its stunning unity of style.

The Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin was a key Orthodox cathedral of the Russian state in the 15th–19th c. It is where all the emperors of the Romanov dynasty were coronated. The cathedral was the burial place for Kremlin Russia Metropolitans and Patriarchs.

The Church of the Intercession at Fili built at the end of the 17th century is one of the most notable and beautiful Naryshkin Baroque churches in Moscow. In the 20th century, the church was transferred to the Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture.

Kazan Cathedral stands where Moscow Red Square meets Nikolskaya Street, next to the Historical Museum and the GUM. The moment you see it, your imagination carries you away, deep into the mystery of ancient Moscow the way it was in the last part of the Middle Ages.

Central Moscow is rich in incredible churches dating back to the 17th century. They were constructed using the personal financial contributions of parishioners. An example of this type of architecture is the snow-white Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki.

St. Clement’s Church is located in Pyatnitskaya Street in Moscow historic centre. Its majestic building with light blue domes can be seen from afar. This is one of Moscow’s most famous churches and a unique example of Baroque church architecture.

The Cathedral of the Archangel was built in the 16th century and dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It was the main necropolis of the grand princes of Moscow. Ivan Kalita, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan the Terrible and Michael I Romanov are buried here.

The Ivanovsky Convent, or St John the Baptist’s Stauropegic Convent, built in the 16th century is one of the oldest in the capital. The main church of this Moscow convent is the Beheading of John the Baptist Cathedral. It was patterned after Italian basilicas.

The Church of St. George on Poklonnaya Hill has no centuries-old history, but its unusual exterior makes it stand out among Moscow’s other Orthodox churches. A perfect combination of traditional Russian and Modernist styles, the Church of St. George occupies a unique place among the Victory Parks’ many memorial buildings erected.

The Intercession Monastery is a convent, associated with St. Matrona of Moscow. This is one of Russia’s most venerated holy women who is believed to have performed the miracles of healing and giving people strength to endure hardships with dignity.

When visiting an active church or monastery in Moscow, you should bear in mind that it is not only an architectural and historical landmark. In the first place, it is where religious services are held and where believers come to pray or to ask for support.

The Resurrection Church in Kadashi (Zamoskvorechye District) is one of the most beautiful churches in Moscow. Despite its turbulent historical background, this magnificent Naryshkin Baroque church built at the end of the 17th century has survived until today.

The Resurrection Gate arch, that leads to Moscow Red Square, establishes a visual link between the State Historical Museum and the Museum of the War of 1812, while the small chapel by the gate houses one of the most venerated icons - the Iveron Icon.

The Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery is one of the oldest in Moscow. It dates back to the 14th cent, when the fist wooden church was built here. It gained most of its momentum at the end of the 17th century, when its patrons were the Naryshkins and Peter the Great.

Cathedral of the Annunciation was originally designed as a house church for Russian tsars in the Moscow Kremlin. Here, Russian tsars were married and baptized. Nowadays, this temple is a perfectly preserved monument of architecture and church decor of the 16th century.