Continuing an ancient tradition of building churches to commemorate military victories, this cathedral was founded in honour of the Russian defeat of Napoleon in the 1812 Patriotic War. Its construction took more than 40 years and the cathedral was finally opened in 1882. Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture was premiered there. Covered in brilliant while marble, with a vast golden dome, it was the tallest Orthodox church in the world and dominated the Moscow skyline.
In 1931 this huge building was demolished to make way for the giant Palace of the Soviets. The construction was interrupted by the war against Nazi Germany and never renewed. The site was used for an open-air swimming pool in the post-war period, and then, in the 1990s the Moscow government decided to rebuild the cathedral. Millions of Muscovites contributed towards the cost of the reconstruction and the new cathedral, an almost exact copy of the building demolished 70 years before, was finally consecrated in 2000.
- You will be able to admire the elaborate interior of this vast building: the famous frescos, the beautiful white marble and gold iconostasis, and the monumental dome, with its windows that fill the whole space with light.
- You will hear about the artists who contributed to the original cathedral, and their skilled successors who carefully recreated the destroyed exterior and interior decorations from the surviving 19th Century sketches and designs.
- You will learn about the building’s turbulent history, and enjoy unrivaled panoramic views of the center of Moscow from its 40-meter-high viewing platform. The views of the Kremlin, the Moscow River, the Pushkin Museum and Bolotny Island are unmissable!
This great cathedral, a symbol of faith, martyrdom and resurrection opens its doors to you!
The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person
$122 group of 1 per |
$68 group of 2 per |
$50 group of 3 per |
$42 group of 4 per |
$40 group of 5 per |
$33 group of 6 per |
$29 group of 7 per |
$25 group of 8 per |
$22 group of 9 per |
$23 group of 10 per |
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Meeting point
We'll pick you up at your hotel -
Overview of the Cathedral from the outside
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Tour of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
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Upper Church
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Lower Church
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Hall of Church Councils
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Observation deck
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End of the tour