Kremlin
and The Red Square, Moscow (1990)
Russia
Московский
Кремль
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Inextricably linked to all the most important historical and political events
in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin (built between the 14th and 17th
centuries by outstanding Russian and foreign architects) was the residence of
the Great Prince and also a religious centre. At the foot of its ramparts, on
Red Square, St Basil's Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox
monuments.
The official name is
"Cathedral of the Protecting Veil", but is more commonly
known as the "Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed" after the
saint who was well-known in Moscow when it was built, and whose grave
is next to it.
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The cathedral was built between
1555 and 1560 on the order of Ivan IV The Terrible to commemorate the victory over the
Kazan Khanate (on this site).
It is believed to have been erected by a Russian master builder,
Postnik Barma.
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Having created this complex composition of nine
tower-like churches built on a common foundation, the great master
builder lost his sight. Tradition has it that the cruel czar
ordered the master to be deliberately blinded so that he could not
create anything else that would be as beautiful. Incidentally, contrary to Russian
tradition, the cathedral was built in a market square, apparently
still another manifestation of the willful czar's capricious
character.
Each of the nine domes of the cathedral forms the top
of a separate church, each dedicated to a saint on whose feast day the
Russian army achieved a victory. After decades of
use as a branch of the Historical Museum, St. Basil's was finally
returned to the Orthodox Church for the Easter festivities of 1991.
- Russia 1994. St. Basil's Cathedral.
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The Kremlin sits high
on a hill
like the crown of sovereignty
on the brow of an awesome ruler
(M.J. Lermontov)
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Lermontov (1814-1841) wrote these words
back in 1833, and his impression is as valid today as it was then.
Visiting Moscow is a breathtaking experience one will never forget. The
mere sight of the Kremlin and the Red Square against the light of the setting
sun is unforgettable, and certainly makes one feel the silent wings of history
sweeping in the air. For many people around the world
the picture of St. Basil's, the epitome of Russia, has become
the potent symbol of this enormous country, reaching from the Baltic
Sea in the west to the Bering Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, and the Japanese
Sea in the east, stretching over 11 time zones, and a climate that
varies from arctic cold in the polar regions to tropical heat in the
deep south.
Among the first stamps to be issued by Russia after the fall of the
communism, were these three cathedrals situated within the area of Moscow Kremlin.
Three more stamps followed in 1993; there are shown below on this page.
- Russia 1992. Cathedrals within the Kremlin complex.
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Blagoweshshenski Cathedral
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Uspenski Cathedral
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Cathedral of the Archangel
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- Russia 1997. Souvenir
sheet issued in commemoration of Moscow's 850th city anniversary.
The stamp shows Moscow's Anniversary emblem, St. George, who is
the patron saint of Moscow -- in the selvedge the characteristic
images of The Red Square with the Kremlin and St. Basil's
Cathedral.
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In this spectacular set of buildings from the Kremlin,
Moscow's famous skyline with onion-shaped towers crowning Moscow's
churches, has been depicted.
- Russia 1967.
- (horiz). 6k. Cathedral of the Annunciation
- 4k. Armoury, Commandant and Trinity towers
- 10k. Konstantinoeleninskaya, Alarm and Spassky towers
- 12k. Ivan the Great Bell-tower
- 16k. Kutafya and Trinity towers.
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Apart from churches
and cathedrals, the Moscow Kremlin has several very fine museums,
mainly dedicated to the history of Moscow, and the Czar
families.
The set below shows
fine table silver, manufactured in Moscow and used by the bourgeois. After the October
Revolution in 1918 is was confiscated, and is now at display in
the Kremlin Museums.
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Peter Carl Fabergé (1846 - 1920)
was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, to the jeweler Gustav Fabergé. He
was educated first in St. Petersburg and later in Dresden (Germany),
as a jeweler and businessman. In the mid-1860 he began working for his
father's firm in St. Petersburg. By 1866 Fabergé was active for
the Imperial Cabinet, the body that oversaw the czar's treasure house
and all new jewelry orders. Contrary to the popular belief, the Fabergés
themselves did not make jewelry. They stood at the apex of a pyramid,
overseeing a design studio and delegating production to a head work
master. Final approval of the finished item, however, lay with Carl
Fabergé himself.
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What differentiated
Fabergé from all his contemporaries was his constant quest for
novelty.
Fabergé's fame was spread by his two chief patronesses, both
daughters of King Christian IX of Denmark: Czarina (later Dowager
Empress) Maria Feodorovna and her sister, Alexandra, princes of Wales
(queen of England, 1901-1910, wife of Edward VII).
Although
Fabergé worked most in St. Petersburg, some of his masterworks are
displayed at the Kremlin museums - and on postage stamps, for all of
us to enjoy. :-)
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Russia 1995.
Souvenir sheet from the set showing artworks by Fabergé.
The art work shows a model of the Moscow Kremlin, topped with a
Russian Easter egg and a gilded onion dome in traditional Russian
style. Made 1904-06. You can compare it to the
souvenir sheet 1997 below on this page and see the striking
similarity.
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Sources and links:
Other World Heritage Sites in Russia (on this web site). Inactive links are
not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing,
Russia-section, for further information on such sites.
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Revised 21 jul 2006
Copyright © 1999 Heindorffhus
All Rights Reserved
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