Kazan Cathedral

Kazan Cathedral was laid on August 27, 1801, in the presence of the Emperor, the first planned that the construction will be completed in three years, but in fact it took ten long years. The new Cathedral was consecrated by Metropolitan Ambrose September 15, 1811, in the same year dismantled and the old Church of the Nativity of the blessed virgin.

Kazan Cathedral has the shape of a Latin cross, the entrance to it, according to tradition, is located in the West, and the altar part in the East. To the North facade of the Cathedral adjoins kannelirovannymi colonnade of 96 Corinthian columns with a height of about 13 meters, set in four rows. The ends culminate in the monumental portico, are made as through-passages. The same colonnade was to be adjacent to the southern facade, but due to lack of funds this part of the project was not implemented. Above the Western passage of the Cathedral there is a relief panel “the Exaltation of the copper serpent” by I. I. Prokofiev, above the Eastern one – “the Outflow of water in the desert by Moses” by I. p. Martos. In the interior it should be noted the bas-reliefs “Christ carrying the cross” by F. F. Shchedrin, and “Taking into custody” by J. D. Rachette.

To end of a project A. N. Voronikhin was never implemented – was not built the South Stoa, was not installed all the statues, not until the end was completed on the interior. This is largely due to the weakening of the influence of the architect, after the death of count Stroganov. He died two weeks after the consecration of the Cathedral and did not have time to realize his idea – to make the Kazan Cathedral a tomb of its own kind. And the Patriotic war of 1812, which began a little later, also had a huge impact on the development of the Cathedral. After its completion, the temple became the Pantheon of glory of Russian weapons. It was buried, died during a foreign campaign, field Marshal M. I. Kutuzov. In the temple were placed the banners of the French army and the keys of the conquered cities, and to establish monuments to the heroes of the war, M. I. Kutuzov and M. B. Barclay-de-Tolly.

The length of the Kazan Cathedral from West to East – 72 meters, from North to South – 57 meters, height with the dome – a little more than 71 meters.