SIDE CHAPELS

The Archangel Cathedral underwent some changes with time, altering its initial appearance. In the second half of the 16th century two side chapels — Pokrovsky ('Protecting Veil of the Mother of God') and Predtechensky (in honour of St John the Precursor, the patron Saint of Ivan IV) — were arranged by the east­ern side of the temple. The first one was later renamed in the side-chapel of St Varus on the occasion of Tsarevich Dmitry's birth, the youngest son of Ivan IV, on the Feast day of Martyr Varus.

The side chapel of St John the Precursor was reconstructed in the 17th century after Mikhail Skopin-Shuisky, a remarkable general and a nephew of the tsar of that time Vasily Shuisky, was buried there. He captured the hearts of people after defeating the Polish army near Moscow.