Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk at the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, Russia

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The oldest structure in the convent is the six-pillared five-domed cathedral, dedicated to the icon Our Lady of Smolensk. Extant documents date its construction to 1524–1525; yet its lofty ground floor, magisterial proportions, and projecting central gable are typical of monastery cathedrals built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible. Most scholars agree that the cathedral was rebuilt in the 1550s or 1560s; it was formerly ringed by four smaller chapels, in an arrangement reminiscent of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin. Its frescoes are among the finest in Moscow.

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Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Novodevichy Convent, 1 Novodevichy Proezd, Moscow, Moscow Region, Russia, Eastern Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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