Archbishop Gallagher tours Christ the Savior Cathedral and meets Orthodox leaders in Moscow

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, visited the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow on August 25 as part of his mission in Russia. That day he met Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, and the two discussed matters of common interest to both Churches.

Gallagher was accompanied by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello. The guided tour lasted more than an hour and ended with a panoramic view of the city from the terraces of the cathedral, which stands a short distance from the Kremlin. The Orthodox Church gave the Holy See delegation a warm welcome.

History of the cathedral

The cathedral's history goes back to 1812, when Tsar Alexander I dedicated it to commemorate Russia's deliverance from the Napoleonic invasion. Construction did not begin until 1860, and the building was inaugurated in 1883. Alexander III was the first tsar crowned there.

The Soviet authorities demolished the cathedral in 1931 and a swimming pool was built on the site. After the fall of the Soviet regime, the Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to rebuild the church in 1990. The work was paid for through a fund set up in 1992 by the faithful from across Russia.

The archbishop's tour

Gallagher visited an exhibition on the history of the building, which displays vestments, historical documents and valuable objects that were either saved or remade by Russian craftsmen. He also saw the lower church dedicated to the Transfiguration and the upper level, with its iconostasis and 22,000 square meters of frescoes.

Gallagher stopped to pray before the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, attributed to St. Luke, which has been returned to the Orthodox Church and is an object of devotion for Russian believers.