Russian Patriarch leads mass to mark 450th anniversary of St. Basil’s Cathedral

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led a service at the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, commonly known as St. Basil’s Cathedral, on July 12 to mark the 450th anniversary of the country’s best-known cathedral.

In his comments, Patriarch Kirill said the cathedral is not just a splendid example of medieval architecture, but also a testament to the vigor of the nation’s spirit and faith. He recalled that the cathedral survived two demolition campaigns, during the Napoleonic campaign and in the early years of Soviet rule

“There are various theories of how this happened. Some of us believe in those legends, others don’t. But we all can see this cathedral rising over Russia’s central square as evidence of the vigor of the nation’s spirit and its faith,” Patriarch Kirill said after the service.

During the mass, Patriarch Kirill commemorated the victims of the recent shipwreck. Tuesday, July 12, was declared a national day of mourning for the more than a hundred people who lost their lives when the Bulgaria riverboat sank in the Volga River two days ago.

Festivities to mark the 450th anniversary of St. Basil’s were to culminate in the ringing of its bells, but this event had to be cancelled following the tragedy.

After the service, Patriarch Kirill examined some of the newly restored interiors of St. Basil’s. The restoration of two side chapels had been completed specially for the anniversary.