Trinity Cathedral

The Trinity Cathedral (1422-3) is a rare remaining sample of early Moscow white-stone construction. The traditional cross-building church with 4 internal pillars features a modest size, carved decor, multitiered finishing, gables (zakomara) and corbel arches (kokoshnik). 

The Trinity Cathedral hosts Sergius' relics. It boasts several works by Andrey Rublev, Russia's best icon painter. Many pilgrims come to Sergiev Posad just to see his iconostasis masterpiece, Old Testament Trinity. The monastery's version is a copy - the original now hangs in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery. The cathedral started a trend with its use of kokoshniks, the pointed arches that became a defining feature of Moscow church architecture in ensuing centuries.