Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Shining symbol of the strength of Christianity after communism
Noteworthy for: Built in the post-Soviet years, the Cathedral is a potent example of the growing popularity of Orthodox Christianity in Russia.

Talk of the town: Generally agreed to be the most important cathedral in Moscow, this is the place where Russia’s rich and powerful choose to worship.
The massive golden domed Cathedral of Christ the Savior is a potent example of the renewed power of the Orthodox faith in Russia after years of Soviet repression. First built in 1860 to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, the 344ft high cathedral was completely demolished in 1931. Stalin planned to build the world’s tallest skyscraper on the site – complete with a rotating Stalin statue on top – but the plan fell through and the foundations were made into the world’s largest open-air swimming pool instead.

In 1990 the Russian Orthodox Church received permission to close the swimming pool and rebuild the Cathedral. Incredibly, the huge replica was completed in just ten years.

In the basement level of the church a small exhibition tells the story of the Cathedral’s incredible rebirth, while the huge main hall of the church is open to worshippers, with numerous services every day.