Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

The collection of documents is dedicated to the history of the construction and restoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. It includes various materials such as plans, drawings, photographs, and descriptions of the monumental paintings that adorn the interior of the church. Additionally, the collection features documents from different archives, including the Russian State Historical Archive, the State Archive of the Russian Federation, and the archives of the Artillery Historical Museum, the Samara Regional Scientific Library, and private collections. These documents provide a comprehensive view of the history and significance of this iconic building.

The history of the creation of the monument to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 began during the reign of Emperor Alexander I. However, the first project for the cathedral on Vorobyovy Gory was not brought to life. In the collection, readers can learn some archival documents from that period, including drawings of a hydraulic machine designed for the construction of the Cathedral.

In 1832, Emperor Nicholas I approved a new plan for the construction, but the laying of the foundation did not take place until seven years later, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the end of the war and the capture of Paris. The collection includes materials related to this event, such as plans for the future facades of the Cathedral (by Architect K. A. Ton), as well as the speech given by Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow.

A significant part of the submitted documents relates to the activities of the committee for the construction of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. This construction was funded by the state treasury and private donations. The names of dead, wounded, and decorated officers of the Russian Imperial Army who participated in battles and foreign campaigns are listed on 117 marble plaques - this is confirmed by the "Alphabetical Index of Units of Troops" compiled by members of the Circle of Devotees of the Memory of the Patriotic War of 1812.

This monument was given the status of a cathedral and at that time became the tallest building in Moscow and the largest church in Russia (height 103.5 meters, capacity 10,000 people). The collection also includes photographs of some monumental paintings created by famous Russian artists such as V. P. Vereshchagin, G. I. Semiradsky, and V. I. Surikov.

The cathedral was consecrated in May 1883, in honor of the Nativity of Christ, in the presence of Emperor Alexander III. According to the Manifesto issued by Emperor Alexander I in 1812, "in gratitude to God for saving Russia from the invading enemy", Christmas (December 25) became Victory Day to commemorate the Patriotic War of 1812.

The documents from the Soviet period are interesting, as they mark a new and tragic stage in the history of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. On December 5, 1931, the cathedral was closed and later demolished. The collection includes extracts from the minutes of meetings of the Secretariat of the Central Executive Committee, as well as a letter from French architect Le Corbusier offering his services for free. Of particular interest is a document on including the Palace of Soviets, which was planned to be built on the site of the cathedral, in the list of important buildings for 1933.

Among the materials in the collection are pre-revolutionary views of the cathedral, as well as photos of the Moscow pool that was opened in 1960 on the site and functioned until 1994.