In honor of Russia’s famous St. Basil’s Cathedral turning 450 years old today, Google has replaced its official logo on its home page with a Doodle to celebrate the cultural landmark. The L in the Google logo is replaced with a colorful drawing of the cathedral against clouds and on top of sand and shells.
The cathedral is officially titled “The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat,” and was completed in 1561. It stands over the tomb of Basil the Blessed, who was so devout that he “wore no clothes even during the harsh Russian winters and was one of the very few Muscovites who dared to lambast tyrannical Czar Ivan the Terrible,” according to the AP.
The monument consists of a central church that’s surrounded by eight smaller churches. The cathedral, which has been renovated several times during its lifetime, was originally built in white stone. It features gold domes that top each of the cathedrals. The last renovation was in the mid-1800s, when the colorful patterns, which remain today, were added to the outside of the cathedrals.
When users click the Doodle, news and information about the cathedral, which is located on the Red Square and is Moscow’s most recognizable symbol and most famous tourist attraction, is loaded. Google also offers pictures of the famous cathedral, which is now a museum that features an exhibit about St. Basil.
Click Here for more Google Doodles from our favorite search engine Google.com.
Written by: Karen Benardello
