Moscow
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign".
Varvarka Street, 8-10.
The church was built in 1679—84 (architects — masters F. Grigoriev and G. Anisimov from Pskov) in Zaryadie in the territory of the Znamensky Friary (founded in 1631 by the tsar Mikhail Romanov in the old courtyard (family country estate) of the Romanovs Boyars after death of his mother, nun M.I. Romanova). It was restored after the fires of 1737 and 1812. Except for the cathedral the ensemble of the monastery includes: the bell tower (built in 1784 - 89 after demolition of the bell tower of the Znamensky cathedral, on foundation of the former over-the-gates church of St. James (1756) in 1960 it was separated from the cathedral with the overhead passing), the northern building of the monastic cells 1676 - 80 (was overbuilt in 1908), the administrative building of the 18th century (between the chambers and “Russia" Hotel), the chambers of the Romanovs Boyars (the 15th – 17th centuries, the future tsar Mikhail was born here; since 1932 – a branch of the State Historical Museum).
The monumental five-domed church is surrounded from the north and west by the open two-level gallery with porches; there was a steepled bell tower at the south-western corner of the gallery (demolished at the end of the 18th century due to foundation settlement).
The monastery was closed in 1928 - 29. Its premises were occupied by apartments. The family icon “The Sign” (16th century) with saints at its edges that belonged to the Romanovs and was kept in the cathedral until it was closed was passed to the Irkutsk Museum. The cathedral became a dangerous structure. It was restored in 1963—72 by sample of the church dated back to 1684 and served as a concert and lecture hall of All-Russian Society of Historical and Cultural Memorials Protection. Fragments of the painting dated back to 1740 are extant (icon painters – S. Dmitriev, A. Ivanov) in the hall of the upper temple and on the reveals of the windows and portal from the northern side. Large quadrangular space of the upper temple is arched with the cloistered vault in the form of coffers with stucco roses in the middle. Cornices are supported by pilasters with cartouches. Tempera painting in cartouches of pilasters and decoration of the altar jog on the second level dated back to the end of the 18th century are extant. In the center of the cupola of the central lantern dome one can see the painting “Eye of Omniscience”.
The church was consecrated in 1992.
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign".
Varvarka Street, 8-10.
The church was built in 1679—84 (architects — masters F. Grigoriev and G. Anisimov from Pskov) in Zaryadie in the territory of the Znamensky Friary (founded in 1631 by the tsar Mikhail Romanov in the old courtyard (family country estate) of the Romanovs Boyars after death of his mother, nun M.I. Romanova). It was restored after the fires of 1737 and 1812. Except for the cathedral the ensemble of the monastery includes: the bell tower (built in 1784 - 89 after demolition of the bell tower of the Znamensky cathedral, on foundation of the former over-the-gates church of St. James (1756) in 1960 it was separated from the cathedral with the overhead passing), the northern building of the monastic cells 1676 - 80 (was overbuilt in 1908), the administrative building of the 18th century (between the chambers and “Russia" Hotel), the chambers of the Romanovs Boyars (the 15th – 17th centuries, the future tsar Mikhail was born here; since 1932 – a branch of the State Historical Museum).
The monumental five-domed church is surrounded from the north and west by the open two-level gallery with porches; there was a steepled bell tower at the south-western corner of the gallery (demolished at the end of the 18th century due to foundation settlement).
The monastery was closed in 1928 - 29. Its premises were occupied by apartments. The family icon “The Sign” (16th century) with saints at its edges that belonged to the Romanovs and was kept in the cathedral until it was closed was passed to the Irkutsk Museum. The cathedral became a dangerous structure. It was restored in 1963—72 by sample of the church dated back to 1684 and served as a concert and lecture hall of All-Russian Society of Historical and Cultural Memorials Protection. Fragments of the painting dated back to 1740 are extant (icon painters – S. Dmitriev, A. Ivanov) in the hall of the upper temple and on the reveals of the windows and portal from the northern side. Large quadrangular space of the upper temple is arched with the cloistered vault in the form of coffers with stucco roses in the middle. Cornices are supported by pilasters with cartouches. Tempera painting in cartouches of pilasters and decoration of the altar jog on the second level dated back to the end of the 18th century are extant. In the center of the cupola of the central lantern dome one can see the painting “Eye of Omniscience”.
The church was consecrated in 1992.
Print version