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3 Top Religious Sites of Moscow

Author: Lisa Jeeves
by Lisa Jeeves
Posted: Aug 24, 2015

As a city that has traditionally claimed the title of being ‘The Third Rome’, Moscow, in Russia, is home to a number of worthy destinations for the historian or religious pilgrim. These days, the city has a good infrastructure for visitors, including quick and convenient private airport shuttle service options.

Even the not-so-religious will be fascinated with the city’s eternal treasures—churches of many different faiths are dotted all around the city, but if you only have time to visit a few, don't miss these three.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

No stranger to ambitions of megalithic proportions, Moscow is certainly a place one would expect to host the world’s largest Orthodox cathedral - that of Christ the Saviour. Once demolished by Stalin (with the view to being replaced by a ‘more Soviet’ building), history had different plans for the site as the cathedral underwent a rebirth, finally regaining its consecrated status in 2000.

Cathedral of the Annunciation

Like most other churches in Moscow, the Cathedral of the Annunciation is topped with golden domes. Once the royal chapel of the Muscovite tsars in the 15th century, every part of the church has a history behind it. The tiles of agate jasper that cover the floor were a gift from the Shah of Persia in the 16th century, while the frescoes on the walls were done by Feodosy. It also has controversy attached to it: Ivan the Terrible had to enter through a special-made door, as he married more women than the Orthodox Church allowed. If you’re visiting to see some of Russia’s most famous icons, this church will not disappoint: on the second and third tiers are striking icons painted by some of the country’s greatest masters, such as Prokhor of Gorodets and Andrei Rublev.

Cathedral of the Archangel

The Cathedral of the Archangel is hard to miss if you’re in central Moscow—after all, its stunning outline dominates Cathedral Square in the Kremlin. This cathedral has always held some political importance throughout the country’s history—it was here tsars and princes where buried, and where military victories were celebrated. It also features exceptional Baroque icons and other sacred relics, as well as some stunning frescoes.

The Airport Shuttle Service and Convenient Ways to Explore the City

There are a number of transportation to get you around when you're exploring Moscow. As mentioned, an airport shuttle service will be ideal for getting you to and from your accommodation, but once in the city you should make a beeline for the famously beautiful Moscow Metro. The Metro doubles as an attraction in itself and its ornate finishes would be more at home in a museum than dingy train stations. There are also plenty of buses running to and from the city centre, which are cheap and reasonably easy to navigate.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for an airport shuttle service, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

About the Author

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.

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Author: Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

Member since: Oct 18, 2013
Published articles: 4550

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