The Kazan Cathedral was built between 1801 and 1811 on orders from Paul I. The architect Andrei Voronikhin constructed the cathedral in the classical style, and used Saint Peter's in Rome as a model. The cathedral was built to house the icon of Our Lady of Kazan.

In 1813 the Kazan Cathedral became the home of Marshal Kutuzov's tomb.

Between 1813 and 1815, trophies from the Patriotic War (Russia's advance on Paris following Napoleon's occupation of Moscow) were displayed in the Cathedral. These trophies included the keys from 17 European cities and 8 fortresses. 105 flags and standards from across Europe were also displayed.

In 1837 monuments to Marshal Kutuzov and M.B. Barclay de Tully were built in front of the Kazan Cathedral.

According to the Soviets, the first demonstration of students and workers in Russia took place on the steps of the Kazan Cathedral on 6 December 1876.

In 1932 the Soviets eventually turned the Kazan Cathedral into the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism.

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Jake Fey
e-mail: x9e0@music.stlawu.edu
RUSS 248A SPTP: Via the WWW to Russia. St. Lawrence University. Project 2
Text - Copyright © 1997. Jake Fey
Revised - 7 April 1997
URL: "file:///A|/RUSSIA2/kazan.htm"