Menshikov Tower description and photos - Russia - Moscow: Moscow (Topic)

Menshikov Tower description and photos - Russia - Moscow: Moscow. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Menshikov Tower, or the Church of the Archangel Gabriel, was built in 1704-1707 by order of Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.

In 1620, the Church of Gabriel stood on this site Great, that on Pogany pond. The pond was called rotten because of the proximity of the slaughterhouses, from where waste of work flowed into the pond. There is a legend that Peter I, in anger, said that `` the thief Danilych '' - the owner of the pond - could have cleaned it. Menshikov did not hesitate - the pond was cleaned out and later became known as Clean.

Not far from this pond, the Church of the Archangel Gabriel was built. This church was built in the form of a tower with a massive cruciform base, on which a quadruple and three through-arched octagon were installed. The upper octagon is wooden openwork - was crowned with the figure of the Archangel Gabriel. On this figure eight were also installed a clock with chimes of English work, striking.

The church was three meters higher than the bell tower of Ivan the Great in the Kremlin.

In 1723, from a lightning strike, the upper wooden the octagon caught fire and collapsed along with the clockwork and its fifty bells. People died. During the restoration of the temple in 1778-1779, the remaining two eights of the three became closed with double pilasters - the through arches were closed. Now the temple was crowned with a small dome.

The design of the temple of the Archangel Gabriel was greatly influenced by the architecture of secular palace architecture - the cornices of the base of the tower and the quadrangle have a semicircular pediment end. Also noteworthy are the massive volutes of the main facade. The walls of the tower were decorated with white stone sculptural decoration. And the lush sculptural decor with garlands of fruits and flowers in the interior of the church has survived only partially.

The church was restored on the initiative of the Moscow freemason G.Z. Izmailov. After the restoration, Masonic meetings were held there. In 1863 it was returned to the Orthodox Church again. In the 30s of the 20th century, the temple was closed. In 1947, the church was transferred to the courtyard of the Antioch Patriarchate.

We also recommend reading Three mausoleums of Uc Kumbetler (Uc Kumbetler) description and photos - Turkey: Erzurum

Topic: Menshikov Tower description and photos - Russia - Moscow: Moscow.