Excursion to Red Square

• Now, we are at Red Square, the most famous in Russia. Every citizen of this country knows this square: the political, cultural and historical centre of Russia.

• And I think that Red Square is known not only in Russia but all over the world.

• Yes, it is like the visiting card of Moscow and the whole country. Usually tourists arriving to the capital of Russia come to Red Square to feel the sense of history of the Russian state. Do you know why it was called ”Red”?

• In old slavonic “krasny” (red) meant “beautiful”, since red was regarded as a particularly beautiful colour.

• Right. But up to the end of the 19^th century, this square wasn’t particularly beautiful. What is really was – just the scene of markets, trading rows, fairs and religious festivals. Since the time of Ivan III (15^th century) Red Square has been the scene of great public events, mainly political ones.

• And when did it get the name “Red”?

• From the mid-17^th century. In the 16^th century it was called Troitsakaya (Trinity) Square after Holy Trinity Church which stood in the place of St.Basil Cathedral. It also had another name: Fire Square because the fires often took place here.

• What is it to the left of St.Basils Cathedral?

• It is Lobnoye Mesto – a raised area made out of white stone. It was built in the first half of the 16^th century.

• I know that it served as a platform from which the Tsar’s edicts were read out.

• It was also a place where holy relics were displayed so that all people could honour them. It is wide-spread opinion that Lobnoye Mesto was the site of executions, but the executions were most often carried out on the slope behind St.Basil’s Cathedral.

• I see the Memorial to Minin and Pozharsky near St.Basil’s Cathedral, erected in 1818. Is it the original place of the memorial?

• No, up to 1936 the memorial stood in the centre of Red Square. By the way, do you know what is inscribed in the memorial?

• Of course. The inscription reads: “To Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky, from Grateful Russia”. I think Red Square has changed greatly for the last ten years. I can see Kazan Cathedral and Iverskaya Chapel and Voskresenskiye Gates. In front of the History Museum there is a monument to Marshal Zhukov erected in honour of the 50^th anniversary of the victory over fascist Germany.

• You know, the Cathedral of the Mother of God of Kazan was the first of Moscow’s churches to be restored. It was opened in 1993. It was originally built in the 17^th century and destroyed in 1936. Iverskaya Chapel was built to protect the icon of Mother of God of Iver from wind and rain in the 17^th century. And Voskresenskiye Gates were the main gates into Kitai-Gorod. In 1923 Iverskaya Chapel was destroyed, and the Gates were destroyed in 1931. The Chapel and the Gates were reerected in 1995. They are situated between the State History Museum and the Kremlin wall.

• Speaking about Red Square one can’t mentioning the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, though it is not situated exactly in Red Square, but at the Kremlin walls near the entrance to the Alexander Gardens. In the days of celebrations for the 25^th anniversary of the routing of the German army near Moscow the remains of an unknown warriour fallen in the battle for Moscow were buried here.

• Yes, the battle for Moscow was one of the cruel battles in the mankind’s history. And do you know that Red Square is also known as the square of two Great Parades? In November 1941 the city was besieged by the Germans, and Red Square was the scene for the famous parade of Soviet forces after which they went straigt to the front. It had a great significance for the whole soviet people. It was known that Hitler promised to hold his own parade in Red Square in November 1941. And the parade of Soviet army raised the spirit of soviet people all over the Soviet Union, though it was hard to hold such a parade but it was needed. In June 1945 the Soviet troops marched in the Victory Parade, and 200 German banners were thrown at the foot of the Mausoleum.

• Thank you very much that you have accompanied me to Red Square and enriched my knowledge about this symbol of Russia. And one more question. What was Kitai-Gorod? Was it somehow connected with China?

• No, of course, it wasn’t. This old name for the area to the east of the Kremlin appeared after 1534 when a wall was built around this area. It is supposed that such an unusual name came from the groups of stakes – the kit – that were used in the building of the wall.

• Thank you once again.

• You are welcome. Now I take you to the shopping complex in Manezhnaya Square, a real underground city with shops, restaurants and other facilities. It was built to celebrate Moscow’s 850^th anniversary.

• Is it far from here?

• No. It’s situated to the right of the Alexander Gardens.

• I am ready. Let’s go.

b) Make up a report “Red Square”.

c) Make up your own project, describing Moscow’s place of interest in details.

You can work in groups, if it is a dialogue.