Visit Vera's site with most of her paintings at:

http://www.geocities.com/verenbrown/index.html 

And

http://russianartist.spaces.msn.com/

And

http://www.geocities.com/v113114/index.html

Moscow Kremlin

From the book “The Moscow Kremlin” by Red Square publishers with photography by Nikolai Rakhmanov. Pictures from books are identified by the book name to protect rights of the photographer. Cards are identified the same way.

    The Moscow Kremlin is a unique monument of history and culture with its splendid creations of architecture and art. It has always been the focal point of the growth of the Russian state, and stage of many dramatic and glorious events. This architectural ensemble of rare beauty and character grew up gradually over the centuries. It is rightly called a “chronicle in stone”.

    Prince Yuri Dologoruky who ruled Moscow which then covered only part of the territory of the present Kremlin, made the first entries in this chronicle in 1147. Burnt down by the Mongol-Tatars in 1238, Moscow recovered and continued to grow. The oak walls of the Kremlin erected by Prince Ivan Kalita around 1340 defended what is now the capital of a principality, which included many of the Russian lands.

    The first Assumption Cathedral erected in the Kremlin, a very small one, was built at the same time. The Cathedral later became the main church of Russian Orthodoxy.

    The white stonewalls of the Kremlin erected in 1366-1367 issued a challenge to the powerful Mongol-Tatar overlords. An army assembled from the various Russian lands and led by Prince Dmitri Donskoy of Moscow marched out from the Kremlin against the Mongol-Tartars, and his victory in the Battle of Kulikovo of 1380 laid the foundation for the liberation of Russia from foreign domination. (See St. Sergius this page) The walls erected under Ivan III at the end of the fifteenth century were a symbol of the final collapse of this foreign overlordship.

    When he became the head of a powerful, independent state, Ivan III began a large-scale building program in the Kremlin. As well as fortified walls and towers, he built the magnificent Hall of Facets, a new Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel and Annunciation cathedrals, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe and the Ivan the Great Bell-tower. This formed the splendid architectural ensemble in Cathedral Square, which at the time was completed in the south by the Treasury Court where grand Prince’s valuables were kept.

   Ivan IV’s adoption of the title of tsar was an important landmark in the history of Russia. He was crowned Tsar in the Assumption Cathedral in 1547. In the same year the chronicle mentions the Armory that now contains the collection of royal treasures and is the oldest Russian museum. Under Ivan III, the Russian state began to drive out its former overlords, the successors of the Mongol-Tatars. The world-famous Cathedral of St. Basil’s (Church of the Intersession-on-the-Moat, it’s official name) was erected by the Savior (then Florov) Gate to commemorate the taking of Karzan.          

   The Russian people’s struggle for national independence at the beginning of the seventeenth century ended in 1612 with the liberation of the Kremlin from the supporters of the foreign Tsar, the son of the king of Poland. The country recovered rapidly and by 1625 the Savior Tower acquired new tiers and a characteristic silhouette quite unlike that of other fortified structures.

    In the decades that followed, the architecture of the Kremlin was enriched by the Royal Terem Palace and palace structures including the Poteshny Palace. The Patriarchal Palace was completely rebuilt.

    More than eight centuries have passed since the Kremlin, the ancient fortress that marked the beginning of the city of Moscow, was built on Borovitsky Hill. The walls and towers existing today were erected for the most part in the 1480’s and 1490’s, when the magnificent new Kremlin was built in the reign of Ivan III. They were completed in 1495, demarcating the territory of the Kremlin as it is today.

For Kremlin pictures, go to http://spaces.msn.com/members/moscowpage2/

Saint Sergius Album See story at the bottom of page 2.

    Battle of Kulikovo: In 1830, the nation had been under the Mongols for 100 years. Now, they were ready to rise against the enslavers. The forces that gathered together in Moscow were many and strong. St. Sergius gave his blessing to the commander in chief Prince Dmitri Donskoy of Moscow, admonishing him “Go against the Godless men without fear and hesitation and you will win.” Before the battle, a courer from St Sergius arrived at the battlefield with a message for Prince Donskoy saying "Do not hesitate, my lord, daringly against their forocity, do not fear, God will help you in all. Piece and blessing be to the grand prince, to all Russian princes and to the entire Orthodox hoast". 

    The Russian warriors moved out and after more than eight hours of fighting on a small battlefield, defeated the Horde. It took the Russian warriers eight days to bury their fallen brothers. A picture of that small battlefield is included.

Click on the photo tab above and select the St. Sergius album.

For more on St Sergius visit my page 2

http://spaces.msn.com/members/moscowpage2/

Freedom Square Parade ground has the Army museum it was closed the day of our visit. All parades are held in the square except those of great importance like the 60^th Anniversary of victory over Germany ending WWII. It was held in Red Square.  A tall monument to the war veterans sits in front of the museum Its very tall with engravings of the battle scenes up the side. A monument to Saint George the Dragon Slayer killing a dragon is at the base of the Veterans monument. A cathedral is located in the square honoring St. George the Dragon Slayer. Pictures are in the album.

Russia and America (the United States)

Americans like the Russian people have fought in many wars over the centuries.

Most of the American wars were in foreign countries. The Russian people on the over the centuries had to fight many of their wars on Russian soil in defense of their homeland.

The American people fought one war to remove a ruling foreign power. They are proud what their forefathers endured and accomplished. England was the only country to try to invade the United States.

The history of the Cathedral’s show invasion after invasion repelled by the Russian people centuries before history shows America was discovered. The Russian people can be very proud of their heritage and what their ancestors endured to keep invaders out and their country free from foreign rule.

History speaks about the rulers of all countries. I speak here not about the rulers, but of respect for the people and their accomplishments. Rulers come and go. Only the people endure, accomplish and remain.

In appreciation of the beauty of the Cathedrals, I studied what I could about their construction and history. As a retired military person, I was proud to find many were constructed all or in part, to honor of those who defended their country.

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