Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles

The three-storey palace of the reforming patriarch Nikon, with the Cathedralof the Twelve Apostles which served as his private chapel, now houses theMuseum of 17th Century Russian Art and Culture.

Erected in 1653-56, thebuilding reflects Nikon's objection to the tent roof as reminiscent ofsecular building, and his dislike of the Old Russian or "fairy-tale"style. Like the Cathedral of the Dormition,it is a compact mass on a high base, with a cruciform plan and five domes.

The Patriarch's Palace is a fascinating complex of architectural structure,comprised of residential chambers and public premises, characteristic ofRussian seventeenth-century architecture. Of special interest is the hugecross-arched chamber roofed by a shallow vault without supporting columnsin the centre. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, MatveiKazakov rebuilt some of the chambers in the palace, including thecross-arched one.