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Historical Archive: Cathedral of the Annunciation, Blagoveschensky sobor Kremlin, Moscow foundations reused from 1416 church built 1484-1489 by master masons Kryvtsov and Myshkin of Pskov 1547 fire; restoration 1564-66 as palace cathedral for Ivan IV (the Terrible), with added domes and upper corner chapels Wall paintings 1547-1551 when not otherwise noted 1737 fire; restored 1815-20; closed from 1918, museum from 1955, renewed religious usage after 1992; restored 2006-10 Iconostasis 14th-19th century, restored 1920s Base roundels, center: prayers to Mary and Christ; sides: patronage Alexander III and Nicholas II Holy Doors, silver gilt, 1818 (Annunciation, Evangelists); columns, canopy, crown 1838 First painted tier (lowest, Veneration), left to right: Our Lady of Tikhvin, c.1565-1600; Deesis, late 17th c.; Virgin and Child, 15th c.; Christ enthroned, 1337, overpaint 16/17th c.; Annunciation, 1600-50; SS Peter, John the Baptist, and Alexis, 1682 Fyodor Zubov and others Second tier up (Menaion, calendar cycle): 17th c. Third tier (Deesis), left to right: Basil the Great, Peter; Michael, Mary, Christ Pantokrator, John the Baptist, and Gabriel prob. by Theophanes the Greek, late 14th c. Fourth tier (Feasts) early 15th c., Nativity and other panels poss. Andrei Rublev (Rublyov); Crucifixion poss. Prokhor Gorodets Fifth tier (Prophets), highest rectangular panels: mid 16th c. Sixth tier (Patriarchs, Forefathers): 1770s. framework gilded brass and enamel on copper, 1894 design N.V. Sultanov, completed 1896 by I.P. Khlebnikov jewelry firm north side east side from east/northeast, main entrance on right east side from east/southeast, on right Palace of Facets northeast (main) entry Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, mid 16th c. Synaxis, arch and tympanum southern part of east side southeast entry, added 1570 by Ivan IV, rebuilt 1949 east apses and southeast entry apses and northeast entry from southeast south side, western (left) part 19th c. south side with Cathedral of the Archangel on right plan after Kremlin museums website north (entry) gallery; silver portal lamp 1628 north gallery: Tree of Jesse mid 16th c.; Mandylion over entry: Simon Ushakov, late 17th c. north gallery: Jonah and the Whale mid 16th c. (mostly repainted late 19th c.); joining of north and west galleries west gallery: eastern vault, Tree of Jesse mid 16th c.; Ascension lower left largely original west gallery south end; south wall: Feats of the Monastic Recluses west gallery: early 16th-c. portal to west aisle, blue and gold paint late 19th c. entry from west gallery, west aisle to south, and pier with SS Dmitry Donskoy and Vasily I west aisle exterior wall; right: Judas in the lap of Satan (Apocalypse cycle 1547-51) west aisle to north, north exterior wall; left under arch: Earth and Water Returning the Dead southwest pier; south side: SS Vladimir Monomakh and Yaroslav Vsevolodovich southwest pier, west side, with iconostasis southwest pier with iconostasis and portal to south gallery north wall; below window: Michael battles rebel angels, Woman clothed with the Sun; northwest pier lower level: SS Boris and Gleb north wall lunette: Dormition of the Virgin; copper chandelier 17th c. portal from north gallery, north wall, and iconostasis center space to south south wall: lunette Nativity 1882-95; 1547-51: below window Opening of the Fifth Seal and Angel puts chain on Satan, below that the Righteous iconostasis full height, north and central portions iconostasis full height, central portion iconostasis full height from northwest northwest pier with iconostasis, center and south portions iconostasis base and first three tiers from northwest north part of iconostasis, first three tiers center part of iconostasis, base and first three tiers center/south part of iconostasis with Holy Doors center/south part of iconostasis; silvered copper icon lamps early 19th c. center/south part of iconostasis, base and first three tiers center/south part of iconostasis from west/southwest iconostasis second through sixth tiers center/south part of iconostasis with southwest pier nave, dome Pantokrator after late 19th c. south gallery to east, heavily restored 2006-10 south gallery to east with vaults south gallery, icons from side chapel above gallery, 1560s, covers 16th c.: Entry into Jerusalem, John the Baptist Cathedral of the Archangel seen through window in east wall of south gallery original iconostasis icons of Deesis tier, center SS George and Demetrius of Thessaloniki late 14th/15th c.; sides SS Daniel the Stylite and Simeon Stylites 16th c. overpainted 17th c., removed 1896 frieze and architrave, 1550-75, displayed in south gallery frieze and architrave, 1550-75 (closer view), displayed in south gallery