The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 Moscow. The style of construction can be defined as neo-Gothic. Today the cathedral belongs to the monuments of architecture of federal significance.

The money for the construction was collected by the Polish community, whose number in Moscow at the end of the XIX century reached 30 thousand people, and Catholics of other nationalities. The architect Bogdanovich-Dvorzetsky in the design of the cathedral relied on the best examples of Christian churches, in particular, on the appearance of Westminster Abbey and the cathedral in Milan. The result was an elegant three-nave basilica made of red brick. In the external decoration of the cathedral, all the signs of Gothic temples of the Middle Ages are traced: pointed window openings, colored stained glass windows, pointed turrets and spires.

The main wealth of the cathedral is the organ donated to the local parish by the Basel Cathedral. The instrument amazes with the perfection of sound and allows stylistically accurately perform sacred music. The music of great composers is played here and during secular concerts. The most outstanding musicians consider it an honor to be invited here as performers.

Now mass is held in the temple in English, Polish, Spanish, French, Russian. Everyone can attend, regardless of religion or lack thereof.