Resurrection Gate, a gift from Russian tsars

For 500 years, the two-arch Resurrection Gate has adorned the entrance to Red Square from Tverskaya Street and Okhotny Ryad. In the 1930s, the Bolsheviks destroyed this sanctuary, but in the 1990s it was restored to its former appearance with red bricks, green peaks, and double-headed eagles. Between the arches is a chapel that houses a list of the miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. Orthodox Christians come here from all over the country to venerate the relic.

History of its Appearance

The Resurrection Gate was laid in 1535 under Elena Glinskaya, the mother of the future Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. After the death of Vasily III, she became regent for her son, eliminating the boyars who claimed the throne. Glinskaya did not live to see the completion of the construction, as it ended in the year of her death, 1538. The gate was built into the Kitai-Gorod wall, which is two and a half kilometers long. The Italian master Petr Maloy, who specialized in military structures, worked on the project. Initially, the gate did not have towers; they were added 150 years later, adorned with gilded double-headed eagles. Even in its original form, it symbolized the greatness of Rus.

Changing Names of the Gate

Throughout its history, the Resurrection Gate has changed names several times. In the 16th century, they were called "Neglinnye" due to their proximity to the Neglinnaya River. Under Ivan the Terrible, the gate was nicknamed "Lion Gates" because of the lions gifted to the tsar by the English. Later, they were called "Bogoyavlensky" in honor of the nearby church. In the 17th century, under Alexei the Quietest, they became "Trinity" due to the eponymous monastery. The name "Kuretnye" is associated with the breeding of chickens in the area of Red Square. In 1689, the gate was adorned with the icon "Resurrection of Christ," and they acquired their current name.

Iveron Heritage

Twenty years before the gate became "Resurrection," a wooden canopy was built next to it for a copy of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered a shelter to be built for it. The icon is named after the monastery on Mount Athos. Soon, the canopy was replaced with a wooden chapel, which attracted pilgrims. In the late 18th century, it was rebuilt in stone. The project was worked on by Pietro Gonzago and Matvey Kazakov, who adorned the chapel with pilasters and a figure of an angel.

Remove Your Hat When Approaching the Resurrection Gate

In the mid-18th century, the gate was damaged by fire. Ivan Michurin restored them in 1742, decorating them with carpets and paintings. The chapel was also transformed, adding sculptures and columns. In Moscow, there was a tradition: men would remove their hats when passing through the gate and bow to the icon. In the 18th century, Moscow University opened a printing house in one of the tiers of the gate. In 1812, the French destroyed the gate, but Alexei Bakarev restored them after the war.

Revolutionary Days of the Resurrection Gate

During the October Uprising of 1917, the Resurrection Gate became a defense for the cadets. In 1929, a monument to the worker appeared on the site of the chapel, and the gate was demolished in 1931. Resurrection Square became Historical Passage.

A New Life for the Iveron

In the 1990s, the Moscow government restored the gate. Oleg Zhurin, a comrade of Baranovsky, recreated them in 1995, changing the color to dark red. The passage became a walking area where tourists stop at the "Zero Kilometer of the Roads of the Russian Federation." The gate is located between the Historical Museum and the Old City Duma and is considered the main gate in the country.

Address and How to Get There

The Resurrection Gate is located on Red Square between Kitai-Gorod and the Kremlin. You can reach them on foot via Tverskaya Street or from the metro stations "Okhotny Ryad," "Teatralnaya," and "Revolution Square." To see the gate with the chapel, you need to buy a ticket to the Kremlin grounds.