PATRIARCHAL COURT IN THE KREMLIN

On a plan of the Moscow Kremlin of the early 17th century, known as the Godunov’s Map, all structures built in the Patriarch’s estate are clearly seen. There were three private chapels at the Patriarchal court — the Church of the Deposition of the Virgin’s Robe, the Church of the Miracle Workers of Solovki, erected in 1566, and the Church of Three Hierarchs of Moscow—Peter, Alexis and Jonah, founded in 1597. Private quarters and ceremonial rooms were built along the northwestern wall of the Assumption Cathedral; its eastern wing ended with the Church of the Miracle Workers of Solovki. On the map, we can see the inner yard with the Church of Three Hierarchs of Moscow and timber private quarters behind it; a high wall with the Holy Gates, and the Patriarch’s garden. Patriarch’s premises were always connected with the Royal Terem Palace by roof passages.

The Moscow Kremlin’s buildings were devastated by the Polish-Swedish invasion in the early 17th century. Patriarch Filaret, the father of the young Tsar Mikhail Romanov, was to rebuild the Patriarch’s Palace. The palace was almost completed when the fire occurred in 1626. From 1627 to 1633 the building had been under reconstruction again—it became no less spacious and beautiful than the Tsarist one.

The next stage in construction works, which began in 1643, is linked to the name of Patriarch Joseph. The Cross Chamber, the Gold Chamber and the Treasury Chamber were built beneath the same roof. Antipa Konstantinov, one of the architects of the Terem Palace, directed the works. His plan of the Palace’s rooms has preserved till today; no earlier version of the Palace’s plan exists.

A new era in the history of the Patriarch’s estate began with Patriarch Nikon. In autumn of 1652, the workers began to dismantle the old chambers, the Church of the Miracle Workers of Solovki, and the constructions on the former court of Boris Godunov, which was bestowed to Nikon from Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich and was adjoining the Patriarchal courtyard. The rooms and the church were built by the end of 1655; yet, the interior finishing was complete only in July 1658, when Nikon left the see. In summer and fall 1656, the private church of Patriarch Nikon was decorated by the team of masters from Russia’s well-known art centres—Yaroslavl, Kostroma and the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra, headed by the Tsar’s icon-painters Simon Ushakov, Iosif Vladimirov and Feodor Kozlov. Unfortunately, the wall painting didn't survive.

Patriarch Joachim ordered to rebuild the private church erected by Nikon. The church was painted and consecrated in the name of the Twelve Apostles on 13 September 1681.

Patriarch Adrian ordered to build a new room on the fourth floor—Peter’s Chamber, and stone rooms for the Patriarchal administrative department. It was the last reconstruction of the Palace, as it stood empty after 1700.