Cathedral of the Dormition, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Ryazan, Russia
The Cathedral of the Dormition is a brick Orthodox church built in the Russian Baroque style, standing inside the Ryazan Kremlin and topped with five domes. It is listed as a federal cultural heritage site and is one of the largest religious buildings in the city.
A first stone church begun in 1684 under Metropolitan Paul produced only the lower podklet before collapsing in 1692. Metropolitan Avraamy had the present cathedral founded in 1693; its vaults fell in 1696, and architect Yakov Bukhvostov was briefly put in irons. Completed in 1699, it was consecrated on 15 August 1702 by Metropolitan Stefan Yavorsky.
The cathedral is the summer seat of the Ryazan eparchy: services are held daily from May to September, when the relics of Saint Basil of Ryazan are moved here from the Nativity Cathedral. The seven-tier iconostasis, gilded in 1700–1701 by Moscow craftsmen, is among the tallest in Russia. In winter the building is closed to visitors.
Because the cathedral is an active church, visiting outside of main service times usually allows for a quieter look around the interior. Visitors are expected to dress modestly when entering, following the general customs of Orthodox Christian churches.
The iconostasis is seven tiers high, not five, and is among the tallest in Russia. Carver Sergei Khristoforov's team made it; Moscow gilders gilded it in 1701 and Nikolai Solomonov painted the icons. It was restored for Ryazan's 900th anniversary in 1995.
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