St. Basil's: The Stuff of Legend

There are a handful of world treasures that have come to symbolize

certain cultures to the rest of the world: the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Pyramids, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the White House … and, of course, St. Basil’s Cathedral. The story of this multi-colored cathedral—consecrated 440 years ago this year, on June 29, 1561—how it has endured through the centuries, and how it has become known around the world, is a rich and fascinating historical tale.  By Andrei Yurganov