Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
A rebuilt Russian Orthodox cathedral on the site of its demolished predecessor.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, located on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred metres southwest of the Kremlin. The current church, built between 1995 and 2000, is the second to stand on this site; the original cathedral was constructed in the 19th century, took more than 40 years to build, and was destroyed in 1931 on the order of the Soviet Politburo. It is the third tallest Orthodox Christian church building in the world, with an overall height of 103 metres.
- height
- 103 metres (338 ft)
- location
- Moscow, Russia, northern bank of the Moskva River
- denomination
- Russian Orthodox
- original construction
- 19th century, consecrated 26 May 1883
- current construction
- 1995–2000
- notable event
- World premiere of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture in 1882
Lore & Background
The cathedral was destroyed in 1931 by dynamite on the order of the Soviet Politburo to make way for the Palace of the Soviets, which was never built due to lack of funds, flooding, and the German invasion during World War II. The site later became the Moskva Pool, the world's largest open air swimming pool, from 1958 until its dismantling in 1994. The current cathedral was reconstructed between 1995 and 2000, with funds from citizens and the Russian Orthodox Church, and was consecrated on 19 August 2000.
Reader's Guide
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour stands as a symbol of Russian national and religious identity, having been built originally as a memorial to the victory over Napoleon and later rebuilt after the fall of the Soviet Union. Its history reflects the shifting political and ideological currents of Russia: from Tsarist autocracy, through Soviet state atheism and the destruction of religious monuments, to post-Soviet restoration. The cathedral's demolition in 1931 was part of a broader anti-religious campaign, and its reconstruction in the 1990s marked a revival of Orthodox Christianity in public life. The site's transformation—from cathedral to planned Palace of Soviets, to a swimming pool, and back to a cathedral—illustrates the contested uses of sacred space in modern Russian history. The cathedral remains a prominent landmark and a place of worship, hosting church assemblies and serving as a memorial to the Patriotic War of 1812.
Did You Know?
- The original cathedral took more than 40 years to build and was the site of the 1882 world premiere of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
- The cathedral was dynamited on 5 December 1931 on the order of the Soviet Politburo to make way for the Palace of the Soviets.
- Some marble from the original cathedral was used in nearby Moscow Metro stations, and original marble high reliefs are preserved at the Donskoy Monastery.
- The current cathedral was built between 1995 and 2000, replacing the Moskva Pool, which had been the world's largest open air swimming pool.
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