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The Archangel's Cathedral
The Archangel's Cathedral was erected between 1505 and
1508. The cathedral was built under the guidance of Italian
architect, Alevisio Novi.
The interior of the cathedral is dark and atmospheric,
decorated with an abundance of rich, earthy colours. The
cathedral's frescoes were painted between 1652 and 1666 by
nearly one hundred artists under the direction of the famous
icon painters Simon Ushakov, Stepan Rezanets and Fyodor Zubov. The iconostasis
of the cathedral dates from 1813, after Napoleon's troops used its predecessor for
firewood. Nearly all of the icons were painted much earlier, however, between
1679 and 1681. The oldest icon, depicting the Archangel Michael in full armour, is
believed to date from the late 14th сentury.
The Cathedral of the Archangel contains the tombs (46 altogether) of all the
rulers of Muscovy and Russia from the 14th Century until Peter the Great moved
the capital to St Petersburg. The one exception is Boris Gudonov, whose tomb is in
the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergei. The Ryurik Dukes are buried along the walls
of the Cathedral. The southern wall is where the Grand Dukes and their close
relatives were buried. The northern wall is where dukes who had been sentenced to
death were buried. The vaults of the Romanovs are located in the central part of the
Cathedral. One of greatest treasures of the cathedral is the burial vault of Ivan the
Terrible. Ivan was the first to take the title of Tsar. Nearby are the tombs of Ivan's
sons, Ivan Ivanovich (killed by his father) and Fyodor Ivanovich (who succeeded
his father.)
The Cathedral of the Archangel was closed after the October revolution. Since
1955 it has been open to the public as a museum.
Источник: http://www.moscow.info/kremlin/churches/cathedral-archangel.aspx