Saint Basil's Cathedral has other names: The Cathedral of Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat or the Pokrovsky Cathedral. It's a Russian Orthodox Church located on Red Square. The Pokrovsky Cathedral was built in 1555-1561 by the order of tsar Ivan IV Grozny (the Terrible).
Saint Basil's Cathedral is a true symbol of not only Moscow but of the whole of Russia too. It's a magnificent building that consists of nine churches on a single base connected inside with a gallery. Each church has a different dome with beautiful ornaments. Until 1600 the Church was the highest building in the city – 65 meters - until Ivan the Great Bell Tower was built.
When you enter inside the Pokrovsky Cathedral it's not that easy to understand its interior principles until you walk around few times.
There are worships carried out sometimes since 1990, on other days the Cathedral is functioning as a part of the Historical Museum.
The Pokrovsky Cathedral has a twin in Saint-Petersburg – the Church of the Savior on Blood.
