Beautiful Silver Helmet Domes of the Church of Twelve Apostles

View from Cathedral Square of Moscow Kremlin on the Southern fa?ade of the Church of the Twelve Apostles decorated with five beautiful silver low "helmet" domes over the "drums" with narrow windows.

The church commissioned by Patriarch Nikon as part of his stately residence in Moscow Kremlin was built in 1653 and dedicated to Philip the Apostle three years later. It was modeled on the Church of the Assumption (save that of the domes are for decoration only, serving no functional purpose). However, Nikon did not rule the church completely finished, having fallen out with Czar Alexius in 1658, he resigned as Patriarch and left Moscow for good. The church was done later, under Patriarch Joachim, who consecrated it in the name of the Twelve Apostles in 1680.

More photos with Cupolas of Orthodox Churches you can see in this album: Domes of Russian Orthodox Churches.

Photo #018 taken on August 21, 2010 during tour of Moscow Kremlin with my Dear clients from USA, Katie and Steve Orrico.