Cathedral of Christ the Savior

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow was built in honor of Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the Russian victory over Napoleon Bonaparte. The design of the Cathedral was inspired by the famous church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Building commenced in 1839 and the Cathedral took many decades to build.[1]

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Russian Christian Church was savagely persecuted by the Communists. Huge numbers of clergy and believers were murdered and imprisoned. In 1931, communist minister Lazar Kaganovich ordered the destruction of the Cathedral. The communists built a swimming pool on the site. Many millions of Christians were murdered in the 1930s by the communists.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Orthodox Church organised the rebuilding of the Cathedral using donations from the public. Building proceeded rapidly and the new Cathedral was consecrated on Transfiguration day, 2000AD.

## See also[edit]

* Lazar Kaganovich