Moscow, Russia

The delegation’s tour of Moscow continued Monday with visits to the city’s center of civic life. The group walked through Red Square, home to many churches, museums, parades and the residence of Russia’s president. The name “Red Square” does not come from the color of the bricks, nor the red on the former Soviet flag, but from the archaic word krasnaya that can mean “red” or “beautiful.” The restored Kazan Cathedral, the State Historical Museum, whose outlines echo those of Kremlin towers, and the Iberian Gate and Chapel have been rebuilt and combine the words “red” or “beautiful.” The best exemplification of the two is really the picturesque St. Basil the Russian Cathedral (actually called the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin). This 16th century cathedral is famous for its multi-colored cupolas (“onion domes”) and is perhaps the most recognizable monument in the city. It consists of nine chapels on one foundation, and is the final resting place of St. Basil the Russian. The cathedral (now a museum) is one of the few structures in Red Square that survived the Communist era.

The group visited a small chapel in the Square during yet another service. The clergy came out to greet His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH, and the delegation prayed with the local believers until the service finished. Then the chapel treated the group to a quick tour of its bells, which were being played at the end of the service. The delegates had to climb up a tiny, narrow passageway to get to the top, but they arrived to see one man playing a dozen bells with several cords and a foot pedal.

After this visit, the delegation made a quick trip to another active parish away from Red Square: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This 17th century church has only been closed for two weeks in its entire history during the war with Napoleon in 1812. The church is home to several miracle-working icons, including the “Mother of God Helping Hand to Sinners”, which at times produces streams of myrrh. The clergy who greeted Sayidna JOSEPH and the delegation told them that the church can even produce its own light at night, not aided by any earthly force.

After a quick lunch, the delegation came to the Moscow Kremlin, the center of government activity. Its existence dates back to the second millennium B.C. It now boasts several museums, including “The Armory”, which contains several collections of artifacts dating back to the 13th century. One room is devoted to carriages the that carried the royal family; another to their collections of gold, silver and other precious metals and jewels; another to regal gowns and robes worn by Russian rulers at their coronations and other civic functions; yet another to vestments worn by bishops and priests dating back to the 16th century, featuring embroidery with pearls and other jewels into the shapes of religious figures in icons.

The delegation’s last stop on Monday is the famed Cathedral Square, one of the former centers of Russian Orthodox Christian life. It used to house the patriarch and his leading clergy, but since Communist times, its five cathedrals and other chapels have been converted into museums. Annunciation Cathedral is under reconstruction; Twelve Apostles Cathedral used to be the Russian Patriarch’s private “chapel”; Holy Trinity Cathedral sits at the Square’s center; and the delegation visited the remaining two. Archangel Michael Cathedral and Dormition of the Virgin Mary Cathedral (the former patriarchal cathedral) boast marvelous frescoes on every square inch of the upper walls, as well as the tombs of bishops and clergy that served these buildings when they were functioning churches. Like in St. Basil Cathedral, visitors were treated to a quintet singing beautiful Russian Orthodox hymns, giving guests an idea of what the cathedrals sounded like when they were active.

For the delegation’s last full day in Moscow—and on the trip to Russia—scheduled visits include a trip to St. Catherine Church, the Metoxion parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); Donskoy Monastery, where the relics of St. Tikhon, martyred Patriarch of Moscow and enlightener of North America, lie in state; and a final dinner with His Grace, Bishop NIPHON at his residence at the Antiochian Metoxion.

By Subdeacon Peter Samore