Church of the Twelve Apostles

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is a five-domed complex located within the Kremlin walls, positioned next to the Patriarch's Palace and north of the Dormition Cathedral. The ensemble includes a prayer hall, a refectory chamber, and connected chambers that form an integrated structure.

Russian craftsmen Antip Konstantinov and Bazhen Ogurtsov built this complex between 1635 and 1656 under the direction of Patriarch Nikon. The project reflected the Patriarch's efforts to expand church facilities and strengthen his role during that period.

The upper floor holds a museum displaying 17th-century crafts and household objects that reflect daily life from that era. These objects show how people furnished their homes and what they valued in their everyday surroundings.

Access to the church is through the Trinity Gate, which leads under an archway to Cathedral Square. Good walking shoes are advisable since the path crosses old pavement and navigates between different ground levels within the Kremlin complex.

Damage marks from artillery fire during the 1917 battles remain visible on the refectory chamber walls and exterior. These scars tell the story of the violence that swept through Moscow during that tumultuous period.

Location: Tverskoy District

Inception: 1656

Founders: Patriarch Nikon of Moscow

Official opening: 1653

Architectural style: Russian architecture

Operator: Музеи Московского Кремля

Part of: Kremlin

Website: http://kreml.ru/ru/main/museums/patriarchal

GPS coordinates: 55.75144,37.61749

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:40