The original Kazan Cathedral was built in 1636 with money donated by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky in honor of the miracle - working Kazan icon of the mother of God .
Unfortunately, like a lot of the churches in Moscow, the Cathedral was destroyed by the Bolsheviks, ironically on the very same day in 1936 that the church was meant to celebrate its 300th anniversary. The church was reconstructed in 1993 on the celebration day of the Icon of Kazan and has been hosting regular services ever since.
Today, Kazan Cathedral boasts a pink and white exterior replete with the ornate window frames and gables characteristic of early Muscovite church architecture, and crowned by a cluster of green and gold domes.