The Main Cathedral of the Russian Federation Armed Forces

The Main Cathedral of the Russian Federation Armed Forces became a full-fledged participant of the 2020 Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.

Architectural Ensemble of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces

The Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces in honor of the Resurrection of Christ is referred to as the Victory Cathedral blessing the feasts of arms of all the defenders of the Fatherland from the early history of Russia up today.

The dimensions of the church are symbolic. The diameter of the drum of the main dome is 19.45 meters, symbolizing the final year of World War II, 1945. The belfry is 75 meters height, representing the 75 years that have passed between 1945 and 2020, the year of the church’s consecration. And finally, the height of the small dome is 14.18 meters, reflecting the 1,418 days and nights that the conflict lasted.

The cathedral was designed using old-times techniques including hand work while casting and manufacturing of mosaics and other interior details. The facades and interiors are clad in patinated copper. That explains the unusual dark green colour of the church.

The Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces embodies the perfect combination of ultra modern and traditional architectural technologies.

There are gates on both sides of the cathedral: the Beginning of War Gates on one side, and the Gates of Victory, on the other. Two sculptures of saints armed with swords, looking like guards, welcome visitors as they step into the holy place.

The steps to the cathedral are clad in metal sourced from melted-down Nazi tank tracks, debris of cannons and weaponry.

Stained glass mosaics in the cathedral’s vault feature various Red Army orders, accompanied by their respected ribbons that denote the class. It doesn’t correspond to the Orthodox tradition, hence being the novelty and symbol of the Victory. It’s the reminder of the value that an award has to every military person.

This cathedral is designed not only as a tourist attraction but as a spiritual hub of the Russian Armed Forces, as well.

The Interiors of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces

The Cathedral interior features mosaics depicting eight plots (from 1941 to 1945) and two angels. The main icon is made of planks of the gun carriage taking part in the triumphant Poltava Battle.

The cathedral is divided into four side chapels, each in honour of the heavenly patrons of the army branches and services: patron saint of the Ground Forces St Alexander Nevsky, patron saint of Aerospace and Airborne Forces Holy Prophet Elijah, patron saint of the Navy St Andrew the Apostle, and patroness saint of the Strategic Missile Forces Holy Great Martyr Barbara.

The Saviour-Not-Made-by-Hands icon that looks down from the central dome is the largest image of Christ’s face ever created in mosaic. Interior mosaics feature both scenes from scripture and Russian military history, including major battles of the Great Patriotic War — Defense of Brest Fortress, Battle of Smolensk, Battle of Moscow and others. The church interior also contains genuine flags of military divisions and fronts taking part in the late period of the Great Patriotic War. These flags have preserved the warmth of the hands of those who reached Berlin.