MOSCOW CHURCHES

Mikhaila Arkhangela (Archangel Michael) Cathedral

Cathedral of Archangel Michael with Tsar Bell next to the Bell Tower of Ivan III on right. The bell weighs 202 tons, is 22 feet in diameter and 20 feet tall, and was cast in 1730 for Anna Ivanovna using the remains of a broken bell of Alexei Mikhailovich, but this one broke also before being rung, in the terrible fire of 1737 that destroyed most of Moscow. In fact it was still in its casting pit when cold water from the firefighting hit and cooled one section. It was not raised from the pit until 1836, when it was placed on the pedestal designed by Montferrand. The surface is covered with bas-reliefs including Anna Ivanovna and Alexsi Mikhailovich and 5 icons.

Cathedral of Archangel Michael from the other side with the Bell tower behind it. The cathedral was built 1505-08 by Alevesio Novi to replace a stone church of the same name that dated from 1333. The tower was built in 1505-8 by Marco Bono, and heightened to 81 meters by Boris Gudunov. Among the 21 bells is a 65 ton "Assumption" bell originally cast in 1532-43. As it was dropped by the French troops in the Kremlin in 1812, a totally new bell was cast in 1819.

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael in the Kremlin. It was built between 1505 and 1508 by the architect, Alvisio Novi to replace a previous stone Archangel's Church from 1333. It is the burial place of the Grand Princes and Tsars up to Peter. (Svyatini page 15)