Saint Basil’s Cathedral (The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat) was erected in the years 1555-1561 on Red Square near the stone of Trinity Church "on the ditch" in 1553 by architects Barma and Postnik Yakovlev as a temple-monument in honor of the conquest of Kazan by Ivan IV in 1552, and the glory of the fallen soldiers in this battle (Trinity Church was a part of the new church). Near his walls popular whacky Basil was buried, and over his tomb in the northeast corner of the temple in 1588 was arranged the chapel, which gave the name of the cathedral, more common than its main title.

Originally the builders were invited to build a temple of the Protection of the seven chapels (not counting the Trinity) in the name of the saints, whose memory was observed during the main stages of the conquest of Kazan. Thus, on 30 August, the day of the three Patriarchs of Alexandria – Paul, Alexander and John (north-east chapel) - was destroyed a large group of Tatar cavalry prince Yapanchi; Sept. 30, the feast day of Gregory Armenian (north-west aisle) Arskii tower and land walls of the city were taken by force.

Memorial Pokrovsky Cathedral embodied in all of its architecture and exultation, festive and elegant. On a common ground - high basement delivered nine separate buildings, connected by junctions: eight crowned heads of the chapels surrounded by a high central tower of Church of the Intercession, which is completed and the dome tent (chapels are located in the corners of two squares, shifted by relation to each other at 45, forming eight-pointed star). Initially, all this picturesque group of buildings was: bordered by an outdoor terrace, gulbischem. The eight-pointed star of the plan of the cathedral is repeated at the base of the tent of the central tower, formerly surrounded by eight decorative cupolas (destroyed in the years 1781-1784).

First, the dome of the church were, apparently, helmet, but pretty soon (at the end of the XVI century) they were replaced with patterned bulbous heads, that more than met all decoration of St. Basil, as well as multi-colored paint, which traded in the XVII century old red color with white seams partitioned "under a brick" and the white stone details. Form-tiered tower pillars composed of octagons, dominates the architecture of the cathedral, telling him gazing skyward. Slide the chapels between the pillars due to their small cubical bases and three tiers kokoshniks, "raising" chapter, also are similar to the tower. If the composition of the volume dominated octagon, the decor is the leading form of kokoshnik.

In accordance with the memorial church emphasis on its outdoor decor, and decorative elements (all of these pillars, panels, arrows, muftirovannye columns, cornices, machicolations, sockets, etc.) made out to order triumphs over principle, criss-crossing all forms from top to bottom. Towers inside the temple are decorated with great restraint. In the tent of the central pillars there is a decorative painting of the XVI century, in black and red colors on a white background (such as painting preserved in the tabernacle of the Trinity Chapel. Under the tent revealed fragments of fresco inscriptions of XVI century about the completion of Holy Protection Church in 1561, internal transitions and picture painted in the XVII century with magnificent floral ornaments, including motifs of flowers and herbs (the western section of the inner gallery has preserved its unique for its time).

In XVIII-XIX centuries cathedral walls were covered with oil paintings (in the restoration of this painting of low quality are gradually removed, fragments of paintings of the XVIII century in the central pillar are saved). Iconostasises aisles transferred from other churches or installed immediately after construction (among them there are the old and new iconostasis XVIII-XIX centuries). Icons in the iconostasis are XV-XVII centuries. Among the best examples of icons belong to the icon "Entry into Jerusalem" XVI century in the western Vhodoierusalimskom aisle. The bell tower was erected in 1681 on the site Belfry end of the XVI century, its bushel formed the basis for pitched over him marquee octagon. The construction of the Pokrovsky Cathedral outside the Kremlin walls on the main shopping area of ​​the city stressed its national importance, and made the temple of the new center of Moscow. As a monument of architecture, it marked the pinnacle of the development of Moscow architecture of the XVI century.