Patriarch's Palace and the Church of the Twelve Apostles — Attraction in Tverskoy District

he Patriarch’s Palace is one of the best monuments of Moscow civil architecture of the mid-17th century. The Palace was erected on Patriarch Nikon’s order by Russian masters in 1653-1655 on the spot of ancient constructions of Metropolitans' and later Patriarchs' residence in the Moscow Kremlin. The works were made under the guidance of apprentices Alexey Korolkov and Ivan Semenov.

The ground floor of the cathedral was used for household services; the second floor housed private quarters of the patriarch. Staterooms were on the first floor. The main room was the Cross Chamber (Krestovaya palata), also known as the Chrism Chamber. It was the place where the Holy Synod took place, foreign ambassadors were received, ceremonial receptions and feasts were held. Moscow Synodal Office was housed here in 18th-19th centuries.

Nowadays, the Cross Chamber, the Front Anteroom, the refectory and the Twelve Apostles' Church house the exposition exploring the history and peculiarities of Russian culture through the 17th century. Precious housewares, jewellery, ceremonial hunting equipment, ancient furniture and items of church embroidery presented here were created by masters of Russia, European and Eastern countries. The majority of items were made in national traditions by Russian masters of Moscow Kremlin Workshops and masters from Yaroslavl, Kostroma and other towns.

They represent one of the most important periods of the Russian history that was marked with changes in the outlook and way of living of Russian people on the eve of Peter the Great's reforms. Of particular interest is a gilded iconostasis in the private Twelve Apostles' Church, made of carved wood in the 17th-18th centuries—it is a wonderful example of carving. On display is also a collection of icons showing the development of icon painting in the 17th century. The works of the leading royal icon painters Simon Ushakov and Feodor Zubov present new tendencies in painting. The exposition shows a new artistic taste of Russian society in the 17th century and the singularity of the spiritual life in Rus on the edge of the...

An interesting attraction to visit at the Kremlin is the Patriarch's Palace and Church of the Twelve Apostles, situated at the northern side of Cathedral Square and the cluster of cathedrals found there. Entrance is included with the general 'Cathedral Square' ticket for the Kremlin.

Built in 1653-55, the building features a nice facade and is topped by five domes with crosses. The Palace and Church blends well with the general architectural scheme of fellow building within the Kremlin.

Interestingly, this is also the location of the Museum of Applied Art and Everyday Life of 17th century Russia which is spread over five rooms within the Palace of the Church of the Twelve Apostles. Here you can view an impressive collection of housewares, jewellery, furniture, iconostasis and religious frescos.

Note: Do make use of the free information sheets while visiting the museum area of the Patriarch's Palace and Church of the Twelve Apostles. This greatly helps you locate the highlight items of the museum collection.

Overall, we enjoyed our 20 minutes visit to the museum, find the items to be quite interesting. This is a place we would want to revisit if we were to return to the Kremlin during future trips to Moscow.

Note: Unfortunately, like most cathedrals, photography isn't allowed within the...

The Patriarch's Palace and the Church of the Twelve Apostles (Патриарший дворец с церковью Двенадцати апостолов) within the Moscow Kremlin are stunning examples of Russian architecture and religious history. Dating back to the 17th century, these structures captivate visitors with their intricate design and rich cultural significance. Exploring them offers a glimpse into Russia's past and its...