From the history of the moscow kremlin and red square.

It was more than 800 year ago that a wooden fortress was built on the bank of the Moskva River on the orders of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The citadel was not big , occupying less than one-twentieth of the Kremlin's present area. Some twenty years after its construction the Kremlin was destroyed by flames during an attack launched by the Prince of Ryazan. But the Moscovites (Muscovites) rapidly built a new fortress.

In the 13th century Moscow was badly damaged by Tartar-Mongol invaders. In the middle of the 14th century Moscow became the capital of the great principality under Prince Ivan the Third. The period from 1485 to 1495 saw the appearance of Kremlin walls stretching for over two thousand metres and twenty magnificent towers.

Each century has left its trace in the Kremlin. St..Basil's Cathedral was built in the 16th century in memory of the victory over Kazan, It is the masterpiece of ancient Russian architecture. There is a legend that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma and Postnik , because he didn't want them to create another masterpiece. During the Northern War in the beginning of the 18th century , bastions and moats were built around the Kremlin walls. Forty years later, a palace was erected for Czarina Yelizaveta to the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli. In 1788 architect M.Kazakov built the magnificent Senate.

The Kremlin is famous for its beautiful cathedrals. The Cathedral of the Assumption is the most outstanding of the Kremlin's oldest structures. It was built by Russian masters under the guidance of Rodolfo Fioravanti. This cathedral was Russian's main church where coronations of Russian czars took place , important governmental acts were announced and solemn ceremonies were performed.

In the 15th century Pskov builders erected the Cathedral of the Annunciation , one of the best Kremlin structures. The cathedral's old frescoes enjoy world fame. They were painted by Russian's outstanding artists Theophanes the Greek , Andrei Rubfcv and Prokhor from Gorodets.

The Archangel Cathedral was built later than all others (1505-1509) This cathedral was the resting place of the Moscow princes and czars (until the time of Peter the Great). Ivan the Terrible and his sons were buried in this cathedral. The oldest interment is the tomb of Prince Ivan Kalita.

The most outstanding of the 16th - 17th century stone structures is the group of belfries dominated by the Ivan the Great Bell Tower . The Bell Tower united into a single whole both the ensemble of Cathedral Square and the entire Kremlin ensemble. Moreover , it was the tallest structure in Moscow.

Red Square , the main square in Moscow and Russia , is spreading at the eastern walls of the Kremlin. It changed its name more than once over the centuries. In the chronicle dated 1434 it is called Market Place. After the devastating fire of 1493 it become known as Fire. In the 16th century it was called Trinity Square and in the 1660s the epithet "red" was conferred on it. In Old Russian "red"meant "handsome", "the best", "the main".

On Red Square there is a remarkable monument of loth century known as St.Basil's Cathedral. In front of the Cathedral is the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. This is the first sculptural monument in Moscow.

The Kremlin is situated in the very heart of the city on an elevated bank of the Moskva River. Its majestic walls and towers , palaces and gold-domed white stone cathedrals attract numerous tourists from our country and abroad and make an unforgettable impression.

Vocabulary.

principality [prinsi'pæliti] княжество legend [ leʤand] легенда

to blind [ blaind] ослепить

bastion [bæstiən]бастион

moat [ məut] ров с водой

solemn [sɔləm] торжественный ceremony [ 'serimə ni] церемония fresco['freskəu]фреска

interment [ in'ta :mə nt] погребение , захоронение

tomb [ tu:m] могила

belfry [ 'belfri] колокольня , башня

ensemble [ a:n'sa:mbl] фр,- ансамбль

Devastating fire [ 'devəstesteitin] разрушительный , опустошающий огонь

Names.

St. Basil's Cathedral [sənt 'bæzlz koθi:drel] собор Василия Блаженного Barma [ bə'ma:] and Postnik [ 'poustnik] Барм а и Постник

the Cathedral of the Assumption Успенский собор

the Cathedral of the Annunciation Благовещенский собор

the Archangel ( a:keinʤəl] Cathedral Архангельский собор

Trinity Square ['triniti skweə] Троицкая площадь

Questions.

1. When was the Moscow Kremlin founded?

2. When did Moscow become the capital of the great principality?

3. What do you know about St.Basil's Cathedral?

4. When was the Cathedral of the Annunciation erected?

5. What is the oldest cathedral in the Kremlin?

6. Where is the Kremlin situated?

7. What do you know about Red Square?

8. When was the present name conferred on Red Square?

Lesson 12