|
|
|
Red Square
Red Square, with an average length of 400 m (440 yd) and average breadth of150 m (165 yd) is the central square of Moscow. Since the time of Ivan III (15th century) Red Square has been the scene of great public events - rallies, demonstrations and processions. In earliertimes Red Square was also a place of execution.
In the 16th century the square was called Troitskaya (Trinity) Square after Holy Trinity Church.
Now St. Basil's Cathedral stands on its place.
From the middle of 17 century the square became known as Red Square. That name does not come from the blood which has been spilled here: in Old Slavonic "Krasny" ("red") also meant "beautiful". The translation "Red Square" (instead of "Beautiful Square") which is now universally used, became established only in the 20th century.
In 1552, Tsar Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, commissioned two Russian architects to build a magnificent cathedral in celebration of the Russian victory over the Tartars. The architects clustered together eight individual churches. Each with its own dome, around one central belfry to create this cathedral. Each church was dedicated to the saint on whose feast day, the eight major victories over the Tartars were won.
Moscow. January 2003