Which cathedral in Russia is officially called the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat?

Saint Basil's Cathedral is officially called the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat.

The cathedral stands on Moscow's Red Square and was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. Its main church was consecrated in 1561. The familiar name honors Basil the Blessed, a Russian holy fool whose chapel was added to the complex after his death.

The building is a group of interconnected chapels arranged around a central church. Its brightly patterned domes and unusual forms were repeatedly altered, painted, and restored over the centuries. The exterior seen today reflects a long architectural history rather than a single moment of construction.

Saint Basil's is often mistaken for Moscow's principal Orthodox cathedral, but the city has several major cathedrals. It is also sometimes credited solely to two architects, Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, although the historical evidence about their precise roles is debated.