Organ concert in the church. Tickets to the Roman Catholic Cathedral

Its real name is "Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary." But precisely by the title of the article, this cathedral is most often searched for in search services.
This church is the largest Catholic cathedral in Russia and one of two operating Catholic cathedrals in Moscow. It is very impressive with its appearance, but most residents of the city do not even know that there is something similar in Moscow. Personally, I learned about it several years ago, and saw it for the first time just the other day, and this was after 30 years of living in my hometown.

The construction of the cathedral began in 1901 and ended in 1911. It was consecrated on December 21, 1911. The construction of the cathedral was due to the large number of Catholics in Moscow at the beginning of the 20th century, at that time their community amounted to about 35 thousand people, and the two other existing cathedrals at that time could no longer serve so many parishioners.
After the parishioners collected the necessary money, the construction project was agreed upon with the Moscow authorities and construction began on the largest branch of the Catholic Church in Russia. But already in 1919 the branch became a full-fledged parish.


The cathedral did not serve the parishioners for long; already in 1938 it was closed and looted. And later, the Soviet authorities organized a dormitory in it. But that was not the worst thing. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral was partially destroyed by bombing. Several towers were lost and roofs collapsed. But this is not even the worst thing that could happen to him. Later, in 1956, the Mosspetspromproekt research institute came to the cathedral. Apparently, such talented designers worked on this special project that they completely changed the entire internal appearance of the cathedral. Instead of one huge hall, 4 floors with flights of stairs were built, which completely destroyed the original interiors of the church. Surprisingly, this predatory organization sat there until 1996, and not only was no one watching the building, it was possible to expel the organization of the Mosspetspromproekt Research Institute only through scandalous trials, and if not for the intervention of Russian President Boris Yeltsin, it would not have been possible it is known how long the court proceedings would have dragged on, but they have lasted since 1992.
This is what the Cathedral looked like in 1980; as you can see, there is not a single spire above the entrance:

from 1996 to 1999, global restoration work was carried out in the cathedral and on December 12 of the same year the cathedral was re-consecrated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
Cathedral during restoration:


In 2011, the centenary of the cathedral was celebrated.
At the moment, the cathedral holds masses in many languages, most often in Russian, Polish and English. As well as performances and concerts by cultural figures. The schedule of concerts can be found on the official website of the cathedral http://www.catedra.ru

The architecture of the cathedral is a neo-Gothic style with many decorative elements. I suggest looking at the cathedral from different angles during the day and at night:
3) View of the cathedral from the north side during the day:


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7) View of the spiers of the main entrance, from the back side:


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10) North side at night:


11) Main entrance to the Cathedral:


12) The entrance is so beautiful that I took several different photos:


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15) The dome, with a light drum, majestically rises above the entire building:


16) On the back side, the cathedral has fewer windows and thus resembles an ancient knight's castle:


17) At night, the back is not illuminated at all:


18) But with a long shutter speed, you can accumulate enough light to see huge walls and a cross made of brick.


19) The cathedral’s windows are no less huge, or rather stained glass windows. Made entirely of mosaic glass:

20) Stained glass at night:


21) and from the inside:

I liked the inside of the church as much as the outside. A different style is already felt here, with massive columns and very high ceilings. By the way, this is the only church where I was allowed to take photographs inside without any problems.
22) View immediately after entering:


The central part of the cathedral is visually divided into three zones, the so-called naves, separated by columns. In the central part there are benches, and on the sides there are passages leading to prayer areas and the altar
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25) As I said above, all windows are made of mosaic glass:


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27) This photo captures the colors of the night light passing through the dome's light drum.


28) Main cross with a sculpture of the crucified Jesus Christ:


The territory of the main Catholic Cathedral is not large, but very well maintained. During the day, children play here, and often leave toys and balls right there. And the next day they come and play with them again and no one touches these things. In the evening, young men and women from Catholic communities come here and rehearse various plays and productions. The entire territory is paved with paving stones and has several monuments:
29) monument "Good Shepherd":


30) Monument to the Virgin Mary:


31) And of course, the entire temple complex is taken under state protection. It is an extremely rare occurrence when an architectural monument is truly protected by the state and is in excellent condition, although I’m not sure that the state is to blame for this...


32) Final, twilight photograph of the south side of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

In the end, I would like to say that I recommend everyone to visit this place. A wonderful, hospitable place in the center of Moscow for all citizens and religions.
The cathedral will also be of interest to all architectural photographers. In photographic terms, the building is very difficult because of its geometry, where the laws of perspective do not play into the hands of the photographer, breaking and distorting the true geometry of the building. Photos turn out either barrels in the case of panoramas or fish-eye, or rockets, tapering towards the top :) You have to spend a lot of time aligning the geometry in editors, but you still can’t get rid of all the distortions. You can, of course, move further away to slightly reduce the effect of the rocket, but you won’t move very far, it’s still a city. A Tilt-Shift lens would help a lot, this will probably be my next lens)

twinpigs reviews: 99 ratings: 50 rating: 23

The largest Catholic cathedral in Moscow

In Orthodox Moscow, Catholic cathedrals look unusual and immediately attract attention. This cathedral, located in the very center of the city, looks especially beautiful in the evening when the lights are turned on. The interior decoration is more than modest. Masses are held in various languages. Organ music concerts are also held. The organ is a real wind organ (not electric, as in some other places).

Sangryl reviews: 770 ratings: 868 rating: 1888

Most of all, perhaps, I liked the audience - both concert visitors and parishioners leaving the service. I also liked the priest coming out of the service - I just wanted to talk to him.
I didn’t really understand why there was an Orthodox icon of the Mother of God hanging above the entrance to the main room of the temple.
I didn’t really understand why people crowded like herrings into the outer aisle/entrance/entrance of the church before the concert - I could have let them pass and sit down.
I don’t really understand why the chairs are so shaky and thin - like they’re made of matchboxes.
I didn't hear good acoustics.
I didn’t see a good organization of the concert.
I doubted the organ - either because of the acoustics, or because sitting in the side nave for 1.5 hours you look at the column (it tightly blocks the orchestra, but you look in the direction of the music), there is a complete feeling that the organ is electric and the sound comes from the stage.
The cathedral looks very good from the outside when illuminated.

Mark Ivanov reviews: 1 ratings: 1 rating: 1

Having read a review that the church on Gruzinskaya hosts concerts in a not entirely church format, I went to satisfy my interest and bought a ticket for January 13, for a concert by Zinchuk with an organ. At the concert itself there was no sound of a large organ, and the performer played an electric one, and not very cleanly. The use of sound-reproducing technology also introduced some discomfort into the perception of music, since listeners go to concerts in the temple primarily to hear a large wind organ. The dominance of technology in the “hall” was expressed not only in sound-reproducing equipment, but also in stage lighting, multimedia systems projecting a video of the concert on a screen in the altar. It should be noted that the altar is a place of worship, and not a disco or club... Indeed, they covered the altar with a screen, you would think that you were in a movie theater, and the guitar player, Viktor Zinchuk, was actually on a stage mounted in front of the altar! An hour ago there was a service, and now the stage was quickly set up and the performers in a half-unbuttoned shirt (and they are talking about the dress code in the cathedral) with jazz guitars, where the sounds of an electric organ remind you a little that you are in a church, and the general feeling and it's true that in the club. How did Catholics themselves approve of this? or is it a tribute to fashion and the pursuit of money? I’m now waiting with interest for the same thing, only in an Orthodox church. In Yelokhovsky Cathedral, for example. Or in Christ the Savior. I can suggest that the organizers invite S. Trofimov to the next concert and organize a chanson evening. Well, or pop. I am sure that the collections will be colossal, and finally the organizers will be able to raise money for the repair of the organ, which is talked about everywhere, on screen projections, posters, etc. And use it at concerts. And judging by other reviews here on Afisha, they also play Kalinka and Moscow Evenings on the church organ. Who can tell me when they became church or sacred music? Or do the concert organizers have a “people are going to eat it anyway” approach? Where is the world heading... I don’t want to offend anyone, this is just my personal opinion.
And here’s what it looks like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozoXFlNuoa0

Maria Solovyova reviews: 1 ratings: 1 rating: 4

Yesterday I was at the Bach concert “Music, Word, Time”. I had never been to concerts in cathedrals before - somehow I didn’t take them very seriously, because... brought up in the Soviet tradition. But yesterday I was invited and I couldn’t refuse.
I have a lot of experience in organ concerts. My parents also took me by the hand to the BZK almost every month, and as an adult I often visited the House of Music. But in this Cathedral an organ concert is something incredible!!! At the same time, delight and the desire to cry with happiness are such strong emotions. Even now, writing this review gives me goosebumps. Everything is simple and at the same time sublime there!
Ideal acoustics, excellent atmosphere, very polite people serving the concert - no pathos, everything with soul! And the organ there is definitely the best in Moscow now for me.
The concert takes place right in the main building of the Cathedral. While the music is playing, the vaults are beautifully illuminated, which complements the natural reflection of the multi-colored stained glass windows - indescribably beautiful. It’s nice that you can watch the performer from all sides: during the broadcast, special screens even show how the organist plays with his feet. This is very impressive! I've never seen anything like this!
And it’s also nice that the money I left for the ticket went to charity and to the maintenance of this amazing organ.
Then I looked at the poster. The program is incredible, everyone can choose something for themselves (there are concerts for children, and for young people, and for people my age), and the performers are excellent. Since the cathedral is Catholic, foreigners often play there - titular organists, who also improvise (I will definitely go to the next such concert!). There are also unique things going on there: Viktor Zinchuk spoke recently and I blame myself for not turning my attention to this church earlier. But soon I will go to a concert for two organs - it will be my first such experience.
In general, I recommend everyone to visit there at least once and experience everything for themselves!
I am an agnostic, but I have great respect for the Catholic Church.

Ruslan Jafarov reviews: 25 ratings: 59 rating: 19

Please do not judge strictly, this is my first review, but I will have to write it.
I have long known about the existence of this beautiful church in Moscow; friends told me that they went and were very surprised that concerts were held in the church that were not entirely appropriate for this place. But rumors are rumors, and I decided to go and see on my own.
I came to the Cathedral for a concert for the first time before the New Year, just as I was at the opening of the Christmas festival. From the very beginning I was surprised that the concert, although it featured organ music, was accompanied by video footage and lighting effects. When the concert itself began, the light show began. Have you been to clubs? Well, there we can say that the situation and atmosphere are very similar, except that the light is more softened. It was wild to see how the Crucifixion of Christ in the altar was covered with a screen showing a video broadcast of the concert itself in real time. The element of sacredness and mystery immediately disappears, and after this the desire to listen to music in silence without glare and other distractions disappears. It is very sad that this happens within the walls of a functioning temple. Although, I heard before that concerts were held in the dark with lit candles, and I really regret that I didn’t catch this, and it’s difficult to judge this. But in my opinion, this was more consistent with the very atmosphere of the sacrament, which they offer to touch through the organ. Now it feels like just a club at Red October, where the DJ, by mistake, turned on organ music. In my opinion, it is impossible to turn an existing temple of a major world Catholic Church into such a show platform. After all, for concerts of this kind there is the same House of Music, where it would look quite appropriate.

The prices are also unreasonably high, as it seemed to me, and the service leaves much to be desired.

I am a deeply religious person, a Muslim who respects Christianity, and I am offended that the organization that holds concerts in this temple puts the temple on the level not of the House of the Lord, but of a banal concert hall. It was somewhat reminiscent of the Pussy riot attack at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In the future, concerts with guitar, theremin and many other clearly non-church instruments are expected there.

I just read reviews here about this, and I really regret that I didn’t go to the concerts earlier, when they were probably really temple concerts, and not a light show.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the largest Catholic church in Russia. It rises in Moscow, on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street and decorates it with its pointed neo-Gothic towers. The building was erected in 1911 by the Polish community in Moscow.

In prayer and good deeds

The Roman Catholic Cathedral has not held services since 1938. And only in 1999, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who arrived from the Vatican, consecrated it and gave his blessing. Now the cathedral holds services according to the Roman Catholic rite not only in Russian and Polish, but also in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Korean and Latin. In addition, divine services and holy masses are held according to the Armenian rite.

Much attention is directed to charitable events, including music concerts to raise funds. On the territory of the cathedral there is a library, the editorial office of a church magazine, a church shop and offices of charitable organizations. The church organizes youth meetings to attract the younger generation to the Roman Catholic Church. In the cathedral, those interested are taught Gregorian chant and improvisational organ playing.

Organ music

Not only Catholic believers visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Many people are attracted to classical organ music. The organ in this cathedral is the largest in Russia, it includes 5563 pipes. Just imagine this amount. This is a huge musical organism that comes to life from contact with a person.

At the concerts they play Handel, Mozart, other great composers and, of course, Bach, the unique master of organ music. In addition to the amazing sensations, there is surprise at the composer’s skill. What kind of computer must he have in his head to harmonize almost six thousand different voices into one amazing melody that speaks so clearly to listeners? The sound fills the entire cathedral, carries itself upward, filling a person. The elastic wave of sound becomes tangible and can be felt by the skin. An indescribable, amazing feeling.

Tears welled in the eyes of many listeners. Others listen with their eyes closed, others hold their breath, afraid to move. After the last chord there is complete silence for some time. People do not believe that the music has died down and will not resume. After all, the concert lasts more than an hour, but from the listener’s perception it seems that only a few minutes have passed...

One can only speak in superlatives about organ concerts; they evoke unprecedented sensations. This example clearly shows that the interpenetration of cultures and religions can enrich the worldview of all peoples without exception, making their spiritual life a little richer.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary May 10th, 2012

There are two functioning Catholic churches in Moscow. The first and largest Catholic cathedral in Russia is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1901-1911 in the neo-Gothic style. Now the cathedral is classified as an architectural monument of federal significance. The story will be about him. We will talk about the second Moscow Catholic church - the Church of St. Louis of France - next time. Now let’s walk around the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, look inside and, of course, briefly learn the main historical events associated with it.


The cathedral is located at the address: Malaya Gruzinskaya street, house 27/13. The nearest metro stations are Krasnopresnenskaya, Ulitsa 1905 Goda and Belorusskaya.


As already mentioned, the main volume of the temple was built in 1901-1911. Money for construction was collected by the Polish community, whose number in Moscow at the end of the 19th century reached 30 thousand people, and by Catholics of other nationalities throughout Russia. The cathedral fence was built in 1911 according to the design of the architect L.F. Dauksha.


The temple was consecrated on December 21, 1911. The construction of the temple cost 300 thousand rubles in gold, additional amounts were collected in 1911-1917 for decoration and the purchase of church supplies. Finishing work inside the temple continued until 1917.

On the territory of the cathedral there are benches and a lot of greenery, and therefore you can often find parents walking with their children here. And this is the sculpture “Jesus the Good Shepherd”:

Behind the fence of the cathedral one can see a rather large mansion of the gas chemical company EurAz Capital. But this is a remake, built in the early 2000s.


In 1938, the temple was closed, church property was looted, and a dormitory was organized inside. During the war, the building was damaged by bombing and several turrets and spiers were destroyed.

The building of the Curia of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God, to which the cathedral belongs:


Main entrance to the Curia:


In 1956, the Mosspetspromproekt Research Institute was located in the temple. The building was redeveloped, completely changing the interior of the church, in particular, the main volume of the internal space was divided into 4 floors.


In 1989, the cultural association "Polish House", uniting Moscow Poles, raised the question of the need to return the temple building to its natural owner - the Catholic Church.

Regular services began to be held again on June 7, 1991.


In 1996, after a long eviction of the Mosspetspromproekt Research Institute, the temple was transferred to the Catholic Church.

Over the course of several years, large-scale restoration and restoration work was carried out in the temple, and on December 12, 1999, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, solemnly consecrated the restored cathedral.


On September 26, 2011, a monument to Mother Teresa was unveiled on the territory of the cathedral.

I came across this kind of living creature on the territory of the cathedral:


In general, in the warm season it is very nice and clean here.




Parking is also located on the territory of the cathedral.


After walking around outside, let's go inside the cathedral.

View towards the altar from the entrance to the cathedral:


One of the stained glass windows of the temple:





Chapel of Divine Mercy, tabernacle and altar of the Blessed Sacrament:

The central place of the cathedral is occupied by the altar. On it you can see the image of the letters alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, a symbol of the beginning and end.

View from the altar towards the exit from the cathedral:




The cathedral organ is one of the largest organs in Russia and allows for stylistically flawless performance of organ music from different eras.

Memorial plaque dedicated to Pope John Paul II:




This is where the walk through one of Moscow’s two Catholic cathedrals ends.