Orthodox Kazan

We stand in the Kremlin, near the Annunciation cathedral.

It is the most ancient survived stone building in Kazan. Since 1552 to 1918 it was the main church of Kazan eparchy. It was built in 1552 for one day right after the capture of Kazan Kremlin by Ivan the Terrible troops. Its architect Postnik Yakovlev was the author of famous St.Basil’s Cathedral on the Red Square in Moscow. The interior has rich decoration. Ancient frescos of XVI century can be seen in its old part. For all the centuries of existence the cathedral survived numerous fires. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great made a service here. From the Kremlin hill we can see the cupolas on the other side of the river. It is St. Assumption Zilant convent.

We will go there later and now through Taynitskaya tower we will go to the bus and drive through Bolshaya Krasnaya street.

The street begins with Parish Pyatnitsky church, which has already existed at the end of XVI century.

The icon of Saint Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was very esteemed by the believers. In 1937 the church was closed and turned into the prison of People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs. Later on there were performed numerous executions. The bell tower was destroyed in 1950-s and church became desolate. In 1997 church was returned to the believers. Today orthodox Chuvash’s community works in this church.

Further we can see complex of Bogoroditsky (Our Lady) convent, which was built at the end of XVII – second half of XIX century. Only few buildings of the nunnery complex survived till today: Sofiyskaya church, Nikolskaya church and church of the Exaltation of the cross, superior and monk premises, hotel, part of the fence with gates and towers.

History of Kazan Bogoroditsky (Our Lady) convent is connected with the finding of miracle-working Kazan Icon of Our Lady. This icon is one the most esteemed among Russian Orthodox Church.

The church of the Exaltation of the Cross was built in 1877. For the long period of time there was situated one of the departments of Kazan State Pedagogical Institute. Today in the church we can see miracle-working Kazan Icon of Our Lady.

From that point we turn to Peter and Paul Cathedral. It is a masterpiece of early XVIII century. There are no any monuments of early Russian baroque in Kazan. It was built in honor of visit of Peter the Great, who celebrated his 50-years anniversary in merchant Mikhlyaev’s house.

Not far from that place near the Kazanka river there is a temple in honor of Saint Martyr Eudoxia. The parish of this church considered to be one of the poorest in Kazan that is why there were not so many changes in its construction.

Further, if we descend to Bauman street we can visit Nikolsky cathedral, where we can see esteemed icon of All Kazan Saints Cathedral.

When we ride along the bridge to the Zilant convent on the Kazanka river we can see small island with the temple. It is temple – monument in honor of Icon of Christ the Savior. It is more famous as monument to the soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan in 1552. Nowadays it is underground church in honor of Ilya Muromets.
Having climbed Zilant mountain, we can see reconstructed white temples with sparkling cupolas. Zilant convent is considered to be the most ancient among the churches of Kazan eparchy.