At the southern end of Red Square is one of the world's most beautiful cathedrals: the Church of the Intercession (Pokrovsky Sobor), better known as the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed.
The church was constructed between 1554 and 1560 by Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible, as an offering for his military victories over the khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan. The church was dedicated to the protection and intercession of the Virgin, but it came to be known as the Cathedral of Vasily Blazhenny after Basil, the Russian holy fool who was 'idiotic for Christ's sake' and who was buried in the church vaults during the reign (1584-98) of Tsar Fyodor I. The church was designed by two Russian architects, Posnik and Barma, who may in fact have been one person - Posnik Yakovlev, nicknamed 'barma'(mumbler). According to popular legend, Ivan IV the Terrible had the architect (s) blinded so that they (he) could never create anything that was similar or equal.

Open: November - April: 11:00 - 16:00
          May - October       10:00 - 17:00
          
Closed on Tue and first Mon of each month

Address: Krasnaya Ploshchad', 2

Nearest metro station: Ploshchad Revolutsii

Tel.: +7 (495) 298 33 04