Naming
The building, originally known as "Trinity Church", was consecrated on 12 July 1561, and was subsequently elevated to the status of a sobor (similar to Roman Catholic ecclesiastical basilica, but usually and incorrectly translated as "cathedral"). "Trinity", according to tradition, refers to the easternmost sanctuary of Holy Trinity, while the central sanctuary of the church is dedicated to Intercession of Mary. Together with the westernmost sanctuary of Entry into Jerusalem, these sanctuaries form the main west–east axis (Christ, Mary, Holy Trinity), while other sanctuaries are dedicated to individual saints.
| Compass point | Type | Dedicated to | Commemorates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central core | Tented church | Intercession of Most Holy Theotokos | Beginning of the final assault of Kazan, October 1, 1552 |
| West | Column | Entry of Christ into Jerusalem | Triumph of the Muscovite troops |
| North-west | Groin vault | Saint Gregory the Illuminator of Armenia | Capture of Ars Tower of Kazan Kremlin, September 30, 1552 |
| North | Column | Saint Martyrs Cyprian and Justinia (since 1786 Saint Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia) | Complete capture of Kazan Kremlin, October 2, 1552 |
| North-east | Groin vault | Three Patriarchs of Alexandria (since 1680 Saint John the Merciful) | Defeat of Yepancha's cavalry on August 30, 1552 |
| East | Column | Life-giving Holy Trinity | Historical Trinity Church on the same site |
| South-east | Groin vault | Saint Alexander Svirsky | Defeat of Yepancha's cavalry on August 30, 1552 |
| South | Column | The icon of Saint Nicholas from the Velikaya River (Nikola Velikoretsky) | Miraculous finding of itself |
| South-west | Groin vault | Saint Barlaam of Khutyn | Indecisive, probably commemorates Vasili III of Russia |
| North-eastern annex (1588) | Groin vault | Basil the Blessed | Grave of venerated local saint |
| South-eastern annex (1672) | Groin vault | Laying the Veil (since 1680: Nativity of Theotokos, since 1916: Saint John the Blessed of Moscow) | Grave of venerated local saint |
The name "Intercession Church" came into use later, coexisting with Trinity Church. From the end of the 16th century to the end of the 17th century the cathedral was also popularly called Jerusalem (noun), in reference to its church of Entry into Jerusalem as well as to its sacral role in religious rituals. Finally, the name of Vasily (Basil) the Blessed, who died during construction and was buried on-site, was attached to the church in the beginning of the 17th century.
Current Russian tradition accepts two coexisting names of the church: the "Church of Intercession on the Moat" (full name: "Church of Intercession of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat"), which is official, and the "Temple of Basil the Blessed". When these names are listed together, (as in ), the latter name, being informal, is always mentioned second. The common Western translations "Cathedral of Basil the Blessed" and "Saint Basil's Cathedral" incorrectly bestow the status of cathedral on the church of Basil, but are nevertheless widely used even in academic literature.
Read more about this topic: Saint Basil's Cathedral
Famous quotes containing the word naming:
“See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament!
One drop would save my soul—half a drop! ah, my Christ!—
Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!—
Yet will I call on him!—O, spare me, Lucifer!—
Where is it now? ‘T is gone; and see where God
Stretcheth out his arm, and bends his ireful brows!—
Mountains and hills, come, come and fall on me,
And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!”
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)
“Husband,
who am I to reject the naming of foods
in a time of famine?”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“The night is itself sleep
And what goes on in it, the naming of the wind,
Our notes to each other, always repeated, always the same.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)