The symbol of the All-Seeing Eye can be found in many world cultures of the present and past. He did not bypass the Russian land either. We decided to find out where today you can meet this mysterious and ambiguous symbol.
In architecture
While in St. Petersburg, you should definitely visit the Kazan Cathedral, built by the outstanding architect Voronikhin in the first half of the 19th century. It will be difficult not to notice the all-seeing eye on the main portico. The place was not chosen by chance: a passer-by inevitably makes eye contact with the unblinking eye of Providence, and the symbol itself seems to absorb the entire perspective of the northern capital with its rays. Its equilateral triangle symbolizes the trinity of God, the eye is the all-seeing Providence, and the radiance is the unapproachable glory. All these epithets can be equally well attributed to both the city itself and its Cathedral, which has always had a special meaning in the history of the country.
On the monuments
In St. Petersburg, you can find another image of the All-Seeing Eye, if you carefully examine the Alexander Column, and more specifically, its pedestal. On the obverse, which faces the Winter Palace, between two-headed eagles holding oak garlands in their paws, in the very center, in an oak wreath, we find the All-Seeing Eye and the inscription "1812". How not to recall the Scripture: “The Lord looks down from heaven, sees all the sons of men; from the throne on which he sits, He looks upon all who live on earth: He made the hearts of all of them and delves into all their deeds."
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In Russian icon painting
There are a huge number of "All-Seeing Eye" icons. They can be found in the Museum of the Imperial Academy of Arts and in the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve, in a small temple in the Arkhangelsk Region and in private collections around the world. According to the Russian scientist Alexander Vinogradov, "the icon expresses the idea of the Lord's omniscience, which is like the sun as a source of light, and the way of Divine vision is like our highest organ - the eye." This image is not considered canonical. For example, Abbot Theodore (Klimovsk, Moscow Region), answering a question from a forum member asking to explain the appearance of the All-Seeing Eye on the “ceiling of the Pochaev Lavra”, regrets that “like the image of the New Testament Trinity, it is widespread”. Batiushka notes that the consolidation of the symbol in Russian icon painting begins in the 18th century under Western influence.“Today, in theology, these icons have the meaning of the Omniscience of God (Omnipotence),” the abbot adds.
On the Russian medal
The medal "In memory of the Patriotic War of 1812" (the word "patriotic" was written with a capital letter) was minted by order of the Emperor Alexander I in honor of the victory over the army of Napoleon. On its obverse is the All-Seeing Eye in a radiant radiance and the date "1812", on the back - a line from the biblical scripture: "NOT TO US - NOT TO US - BUT TO YOUR NAME." According to the emperor, every rank who received this medal can be proud. “He reveals in you the true sons of the Fatherland blessed by God. Your enemies, seeing him on your bosom, let them tremble, knowing that beneath him burns courage, not based on fear or greed, but based on love for faith and the Fatherland and, therefore, invincible. " Today the medal can be found in the Borodino Battle Panorama Museum in Moscow.
In the Andreevsky Hall of the Kremlin
If you enter the main ceremonial hall of the Moscow Kremlin - Andreevsky - you will see a triple throne standing on a golden pedestal. If we look higher, then against the background of sky-blue silk we see the radiance of rays covered with gold leaf, in the very center of which is the All-Seeing Eye. I really want to adhere to the idea that its meaning is contained in the lines: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is over those who fear Him and hope in His mercy”. In pursuit of sensations, some are inclined to ascribe to this sign the meaning of a "pyramid of power" from which those in power watch their "sheep", others see it as Masonic symbolism.
On the masonic coat of arms
Studying the question of the All-Seeing Eye, it is difficult not to mention the Masons. Freemasons used a sign borrowed from Christianity, which was called the "Radiant Delta". The all-seeing eye is enclosed in a rhombus, which is formed by a compass and a triangle. For Masons, it was primarily a sign of enlightenment and the principle of consciousness. It also means the All-Seeing Eye of the Great Builder of the Universe - the neutral Supreme God, in whom every Mason believes, based on his personal religion. "Radiant Delta" is intended to remind every Mason of his own Masonic star, which accompanies him in his labors and illuminates the path of the search.
On the coat of arms of the city of Kushva, Sverdlovsk region
The search for the All-Seeing Eye led us to the Sverdlovsk Region, namely to the city of Kushva, on whose coat of arms we were surprised to find this symbol. To our question, posted on the official website of the Kushva urban district, we received the answer that "The Eye of the Lord in the azure triangle" is "the stamp (seal) of the plant." Subsequent searches led us to the stigma of the Kushvin masters, which was placed, apparently, on all products produced at the Kushva plant. And this brand looked like a truncated pyramid with an all-seeing eye crowning it in a triangle surrounded by radiance. Why exactly such an image was chosen by the masters as a seal (stamp) is difficult to say for certain today. Suppose that the eye symbolizes in this case the ability to find mineral deposits with God's help, and the truncated pyramid - the very mountains,which hide the "treasures" that man is looking for.