Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Moscow)

 Russian Orthodox Church, 17th century construction, 15th century construction, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia), Orthodox church

In the final years of his reign, Mikhail Romanov launched the renovation of a new Cathedral of the Transfiguration to replace the already decaying church Ivan the Great had built that had been looted during the Time of Troubles. It was commissioned as a crypt for the Romanov family, in particular Mikhail Romanov's mother, and many other Romanov family members were buried beneath the main floor. This massive, cube-shaped building with four star-studded blue domes with windowed drums at the corners and one larger, higher central dark silver gray dome also with windowed drum is the first structure seen inside the gateway, and it somewhat resembles the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin. On the small porch to the right of the entrance door, flanking the mosaic of the Savior, is the coat of arms of the Romanov family (on the right) and the Sheremetev family (on the left). Frescoes from the late 17th century cover the walls of the gallery outside the cathedral. They depict the history of Christianity in Russia from the early Grand Dukes and Princes to the death of Tsarevich Dmitri and the Time of Troubles, and trace the Romanov family tree back to the Viking Prince Rurik and Princess Olga.

In 1901-1902 in the lower level of the church with the Romanov tombs is the Church of St. Roman the Melodius, which was built by the architect S. U. Solovev.