Basil the Blessed

Description

A must-see Moscow monument

How can one imagine Moscow without thinking of its famous Red Square and the extravagant colours of the unmissable Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed? How can one forget its colorful, bulbous domes? The construction of this edifice began in 1555 by order of Tsar Ivan IV to celebrate the capture of Kazan.

Its original name was the «Cathedral of the Virgin’s Intercession.» However, St. Basil’s tomb, located in one of the side chapels, became its current namesake. St. Basil was a Fool for Christ, who had gained the respect of Ivan IV the Terrible by living a stripped down, naked life. In 1929, the church was turned into a museum. A religious service continues to be celebrated there once a year, always in memory of the taking of Kazan.

A work of art in homage to a masterpiece of Russian architecture

This piece is a splendid tribute to the masterpiece of St. Basil’s Cathedral and joins the Russian Themes collection.  Crafted in 800 silver, the cathedral’s silhouette is complete with a dome above which stands a cross. Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies are inlaid on one side of the pen’s body and on its cap, recalling the bright and varied colors of the monument.