Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a large Russian Orthodox cathedral on the northern bank of the Moskva River in central Moscow. The original church was completed in the late 19th century, demolished in the 1930s, and a full-scale reconstruction was completed and consecrated around 2000.

The rebuilt cathedral features a vast central nave, richly decorated interiors and a prominent gilded dome and bell towers that dominate the nearby skyline. It functions as a principal place of worship for the Russian Orthodox Church and as a major architectural landmark in central Moscow.

Historically the first cathedral was built in the 19th century as a national memorial and was demolished under Soviet planning in the 1930s; the modern reconstruction followed late 20th-century restoration initiatives and reopened for religious services and public visits. The site combines liturgical functions with museum and exhibition spaces.

The cathedral sits near the Kremlin on the Moskva River embankment and is accessible from central Moscow transport links and pedestrian routes along the river.

• Destruction and reconstruction: The original 19th-century cathedral was demolished in the 1930s and a rebuilt replica was completed and consecrated in 2000, using historical plans and modern construction techniques.
• Location and prominence: The cathedral is located close to the Kremlin and the Moskva River embankment; its location and size make it one of the most visible Russian Orthodox churches in central Moscow.

What to See #

• Main nave and iconostasis: The cathedral's vast central nave and richly decorated iconostasis, forming the liturgical heart of the building and its main worship space.
• Domes and exterior: The exterior and roofline with its prominent gilded cupola and bell towers that define the cathedral's skyline presence on the Moskva River embankment.