Church of St. Martin the Confessor, Orthodox church in Tagansky District, Moscow, Russia
The Church of St. Martin the Confessor is a church building in Moscow's Tagansky District featuring a central rotunda, columned porticos, and a bell tower. This stone structure follows classical architectural designs and presents a harmonious blend of proportions and structural elements.
An original wooden church occupied this site from 1625, and the current stone building was commissioned by tea merchant Vasily Zhigarev starting in 1791. The architect Rodion Kazakov designed it according to classical principles that were gaining influence in Moscow at that time.
Italian artist Antonio Claudio painted interior murals between 1800 and 1801, depicting biblical figures from both Eastern and Western traditions. These works blend European painting techniques with Orthodox sacred imagery in an unusual way.
Regular services take place here, and visitors can see the restored original iconostasis along with the relics of Saint Matrona kept in the church. Set aside time to observe the interior decoration and artistic details at a comfortable pace.
During the French invasion of 1812, Marshal Murat stationed troops to protect this building from looters after noticing its architectural quality. This unexpected military interest preserved the structure from ransacking during a turbulent period.
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