Saint Basil’s Cathedral (real name The Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral. Ivan the Fourth (also known as Ivan the Terrible) ordered for the construction to begin on St. Basils Cathedral at the Red Square in Moscow. The completion of it in 1561 commemorated the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan from the Mongols.

Originally with just 9 churches, a tenth church appeared in 1588. The design is shaped as a flame of a bonfire rising into the sky making St. Basil’s a delightful array of swirling colors and redbrick towers. While the extravagance of the exterior hides a much more leniant decorated and somewhat less spectacular interior. The garden outside of St. Basil’s contains a bronze Statue to Minin and Pozharsky. These 2 rallied Russia’s volunteer army during the Time of Troubles and drove out the invading Polish forces. The cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

Napoleon wanted to remove St Basils and take it back to Paris. Without the technology to achieve it, he ordered it to be destroyed when they had to retreat. The French set up kegs of gunpowder and lit their fuses, but a freak rain shower helped prevent the explosion.

Weather for Moscow

Today	05/20/2012	05/21/2012	05/22/2012	05/23/2012	05/24/2012
Thunderstorm 77°/52°	Partly Cloudy 84°/55°	Partly Cloudy 81°/57°	Partly Cloudy 81°/59°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 81°/57°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 77°/54°