The Cathedral of the Dormition is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. It is located on the north side of Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia, where a narrow alley separates the north from the Patriarch's Palace with the Twelve Apostles Church. Southwest is Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Separately in the southwest, also separated by a narrow passage from the church, is the Palace of Facets . The Cathedral is regarded as the mother church of Muscovite Russia.
The Ivan the Great Bell Tower is the tallest of the towers in the Moscow Kremlin complex, with a total height of 81 metres (266 ft). It was built in 1508 for the Russian Orthodox cathedrals in Cathedral Square, namely the Assumption, Archangel and Annunciation cathedrals, which do not have their own belfries. It is said to mark Moscow's precise geographic center.
Ludmila, our native Moscow guide for National Geographic Expeditions. She had been through numerous government changes and could tell some very fascinating stories. Plus she recommended "Russian Standard" as the premier Russian Vodka.