Great Bells of Russia

Here are listed 13 existing and 38 former great bells of Russia, in descending order by weight.  The list includes qualifying bass bells of carillons, chimes, zvons, etc., and is believed to include all existing bells of at least 16000kg or 1100 poods.  The format of each entry is explained in a key at the bottom of this page.

Not yet included are many other great bells of Russia (mostly between 4 and 16 tonnes), especially the poorly-documented predecessors of some bells which are listed.

Bells in italics no longer exist.

• "Tsar Kolokol" (Emperor Bell), (pitch unknown), ~198000kg, Motorin, 1733-5
• Kremlin, near Ivan Veliki Bell Tower
  Moscow, Russia
• Broken in a city-wide fire before it was removed from its casting pit, it never rang.  Instead, it rested there for a century before being hoisted out and placed on a low pedestal near the belltower of Ivan Veliki (Ivan the Great).  It had been cast to replace a bell of the same name which was destroyed by fire in 1704.  Nearby are three other great bells, of 72000 kg (1817), 56000 kg and 33000 kg (both 1819).
  Diameter 682 cm, height 747 cm (including crown), thickness 49 cm at soundbow.
  Also reported as diameter 660 cm, height 614 cm (without crown?), ~200,000 kg.
  This was a replacement for a series of at least three preceding bells, not listed here.
• Links:
  > Illustrated page about the world's three largest bells (this was #3), from russianbells.com
  > Article (Russian language) with clickable illustrations
  > Translated article (English language) but illustrations are NOT clickable
  > A Moscow Info page describes and pictures the Tsar Bell.
  > One of several pages in a photo tour of the Kremlin pictures and briefly describes the Tsar Bell.
  > Besides the links above, there are numerous other links related to both this bell and the various nearby instruments; those links can be found on our page about Tower Bells of the Moscow Kremlin.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

2.   Moscow, Russia - ~362000 lbs

• "Trotzkoi", pitch?, ~164000 kg, maker?, year?
• Kremlin
  Moscow, Russia
• Attribution uncertain; fate unknown >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

3b.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~159000 lbs

• "Tsarsky Kolokol" (second), pitch?, 72 metric tons, Baltic foundry (St.Petersburg), 2003/4
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Bass bell of a 24-bell zvon.
  Replacement for the similar bell destroyed in 1930 (see below).
  Diameter 450 cm, height 455 cm
  Cast in Sep.2003, installed Apr.2004, first rung in May.2004.
• Links:
  > Article (Russian language) with clickable illustrations, detailing the history of the monastery's bells.
  > Translated article (English language), but illustrations are NOT clickable
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

3a.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~144000 lbs

• "Tsarsky Kolokol" (first), (pitch unknown), ~72 short tons, maker?, 1748
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Often called the "Trotzkoi" (Trinity) bell, and considered the world's 7th largest, this bell (along with several others) was removed and melted down in 1930.
  Replaced in 2003/4 (see above)
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

5.   Moscow, Russia - ~144000 lbs

• "Great Uspensky", pitch?, ~4000 poods, Zavyalov & Rusinov, 1817
• Assumption Belfry
  Ivan the Great Bell Tower complex
  within the Kremlin
  Moscow, Russia
• Bass bell of a 21-bell zvon.
  Until 2003, this was the heaviest working bell in Russia.
  Also reported as 65320 kg (~144000 lbs)
• Links:
  > Article (Russian language) with clickable illustrations
  > Translated article (English language) but illustrations are NOT clickable
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

6.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~78250 lbs

• "Blagovestnik", pitch?, 35.5 metric tons, AMO ZIL (Moscow), 2002
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Second bell of a 24-bell zvon.
  Replacement for a similar bell destroyed in 1930.
  Diameter 365 cm, height 370 cm
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

7b.   Zvenigorod, Russia - ~77,000 lbs

• "Rozhdestva Presvyatoi Bogoroditsi", B-flat, 35 metric tons, Vera LLC (Shilova, nr. Voronezh), 2003
• Savvino-Storozhevskij Monastery
  Zvenigorod, Russia
• Replaces a similar bell broken in 1941 (see #7a below).
  Diameter 365cm, height 370cm (with crown);
• Links:
  > A news article (transcribed and translated by russianbells.com) with details and photographs of the casting of the replacement bell.
  > About the Vera foundry
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

7a.   Zvenigorod, Russia - ~77,000 lbs

• "name", pitch?, reported weight?, maker?, 1667
• Savvino-Storozhevskij Monastery
  Zvenigorod, Russia
• Was considered to be the most sonorous in all Russia.
  Removed from tower in autumn 1941 with the intention of hiding it in the Moscow River to prevent capture by the approaching Nazis; unfortunately, during removal it fell and broke.
• Links:
  > A news article (transcribed and translated by russianbells.com) about the casting of the replacement bell (see #7b above) includes some information about this original.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

9.   Novgorod, Russia - 75,837 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 75,837 lbs, maker?, year?
• Iur'ev Monastery
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

10.   Tambov, Russia - ~72,226 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 72,226 lbs, maker?, year?
• Archvishop's Residence
  Kazan'skij Monastery
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

11.   Novgorod province, Russia - ~72,226 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 72,226 lbs, maker?, year?
• Kirillo-Belozerskii Monastery
  Novgorod Province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

12.   Moscow, Russia - ~72,226 lbs

• "Reut", pitch?, 72,226 lbs, Andrey Chohov, 1622
• Assumption Belfry
  Ivan the Great Bell Tower complex
  within the Kremlin
  Moscow, Russia
• Second bell of a 21-bell zvon.
  Diameter 287 cm;
  reported as either 32760 kg (72220 lbs) or 19656 kg (43334 lbs)
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

13.   Leningrad/St.Petersburg, Russia - ~67191 lbs

• "name", pitch?, 67191 lbs, maker?, mid-19th c.
• St.Isaac's Cathedral
  Leningrad/St.Petersburg, Russia
• As of July 2004, all four belfries of this building were empty.
• Links:
  >
  

14.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~66809 lbs

• "Godunov", (pitch unknown), ~66809 lbs, maker?, 1600
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Was the third bell of the pre-revolutionary zvon (see above)
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

15.   Moscow, Russia - ~65700 lbs

• "Great Solemnity", pitch?, 29.8 metric tons, AMO ZIL (Moscow), 1996
• Temple of Christ the Savior
  Moscow, Russia
• Diameter 356 cm, height 386 cm
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

16.   Moscow, Russia - ~59749 lbs

• "Torzhestvennyj", pitch?, 59749 lbs, maker?, 1878
• Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
  Moscow, Russia
• Hung in southwest tower; building demolished in 1931
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

17.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~59500 lbs

• "Great Solemnity", pitch?, 27 metric tons, AMO ZIL (Moscow), 2002
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Third bell of the restored 24-bell zvon
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

18.   Novgorod, Russia - ~58286 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 58286 lbs, maker?, 1659
• (Institution name and address not recorded)
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

19.   Moscow, Russia - ~57300 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 57300 lbs, maker?, 1878
• (Institution name and address not recorded)
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

20.   Rostov Velikii (Rostov the Great), Russia - ~52000 lbs

• "Sysoj", B, 2000 poods (~26 tons), Florae Terentyev, 1689
• Uspenski Sobor (Assumption Cathedral)
  Kremlin
  Rostov
• Bass bell of a 15-bell zvon.
  Also reported as 72,226 lbs, or 32760 kg, 1688; diameter 363 cm.
• Links:
  > Article (Russian language) with clickable illustrations
  > Translated article (English language) but illustrations are NOT clickable
  > Table of bells and MP3 clips of 9 different peals
  > Recording of this bell from russianbells.com
  > John Ketteringham's recording of this bell (possibly a shortened version of the preceding one); both recordings yield note "C" rather than "B" against an A-440 pitchpipe.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

21.   Rostov Velikii (Rostov the Great), Russia - ~50000 lbs

• "Polielejnij", B, 22639 kg), Philip Andreev, 1682
• Uspenski Sobor (Assumption Cathedral)
  Kremlin
  Rostov
• Second bell of a 15-bell zvon.
  Diameter 292 cm, height 315 cm
• Links:
  > Table of bells and MP3 clips of 9 different peals
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

22.   Zagorsk, Russia - ~46044 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 46044 lbs, maker?, date?
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra (monastery)
  Zagorsk (near Moscow), Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

23.   Moscow, Russia - ~44419 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 44419 lbs, maker?, date?
• Nicolo-Ugreshskij Monastery
  ? (near Moscow), Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

24.   Novgorod, Russia - ~44169 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 44169 lbs, maker?, date?
• Iur'ev Monastery
  ? (near Novgorod), Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

25.   Dzerzhinskij, Russia - ~40800 lbs

• "Ugreshsky Blagovestnik", pitch?, 18500 kg, Baltic foundry (St.Petersburg), 2004
• Svyato-Nikolskij Ugreshsky Monastery (Dzerzhinskij MO)
• Diameter 280 cm, height 300 cm
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

26.   Kursk, Russia - ~37738 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 37738 lbs, maker?, date?
• Znamenskij Monastery
  Kursk, Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

27.   Miskovo, Russia - ~37408 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 37408 lbs, maker?, date?
• Village of Miskovo in the Kostroma province and district
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

28.   Ozery, Russia - ~37196 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 37196 lbs, maker?, date?
• Ozery, Moscow province, Kolomenskii district
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

29.   Belgorod, Russia - ~36921 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36921 lbs, maker?, date?
• Holy Trinity Monastery
  Belgorod, Kursk province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

30.   Moscow, Russia - ~36740 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36740 lbs, maker?, date?
• Uspensky Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

31.   Yekaterinburg, Russia - ~36655 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36655 lbs, maker?, date?
• Maksimilianovskij Church
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

32.   Tobol'sk, Russia - ~36530 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 1011 poods 22 funts, maker?, 1738
• (institution name not recorded)
• Was the largest in Siberia as of 1850
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

33.   Yarosloval, Russia - ~36402 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36402 lbs, maker?, date?
• Vlasievskij Church
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

34.   Khar'kov, Russia - ~36294 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36294 lbs, maker?, date?
• Uspensky Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35A.   Kiev?, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Kievo-Pecherskaia Lavra
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35B.   Moscow, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Spaso-Simonov Monastery
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35C.   Moscow?, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Nikolo-Berliukovskaia Hermitage
  Moscow province, Bogorodskij district
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35D.   Bronnitsy, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Jerusalem Church
  Bronnitsy, Moscow province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35E.   Pavlovo Posad, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Voskresenskij Church
  Pavlovo Posad, Moscow province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35F.   Rybynsk, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Dorofeevaialugskaia Hermitage
  near Rybynsk, Yaroslavl province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35G.   Rostov Velikii (Rostov the Great), Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "Polyelejny", pitch?, ~16380kg, maker?, 1682
• Uspenski Sobor (Assumption Cathedral)
  Kremlin
  Rostov
• Second bell of a 15-bell zvon; diameter 286 cm.
• Links: (see preceding line; also see entry for bass bell above)

35H.   Kazan, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Blagoveshchenskij Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35I.   Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Vladimir province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35J.   Kimry, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Village of Kimry, Tver province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35K.   Odessa, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35L.   Pavlovo, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Pavlovo, Nizhnij-Novgorod province
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

35M.   Tver, Russia - ~36113 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 36113 lbs, maker?, date?
• Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  

48.   Solovky' Island, White Sea, Russia - ~36000 lbs

• (name and pitch unknown), 1100 poods, Peter Evdokimov (St.Petersburg), 1784
• Solovetsky Monastery
• Cast to honor Catherine the Great
  Destroyed for scrap in 1919 by Russian revolutionaries
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

49A.   Moscow, Russia - ~35300 lbs

• "Prazdnichnij", pitch?, 16000 kg, AMO ZIL (Moscow), 1997
• Temple of Christ the Savior
  Moscow, Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

49B.   Tomsk, Russia - ~35300 lbs

• "Voskresenskij Tsar-bell", pitch?, 16000 kg, Vera LLC (Voronezh), 2004
• Svyato Voskresenskij Cathedral
  Tomsk, Russia
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

51.   Rostov Velikii (Rostov the Great), Russia - ~18000 lbs

• "Polyeleiny", pitch?, ~8190kg, maker?, date?
• Uspenski Sobor (Assumption Cathedral)
  Kremlin
  Rostov
• Third bell of a 15-bell zvon; diameter 227 cm.
• Links: (see preceding line; also see entry for bass bell above)

nr.   City, Russia - EquivalentWeight lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, reported weight?, maker?, year?
• Institution name and address
• Remarks
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

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This page was created 2006/11/26 and last revised 2007/12/12.

Please send comments or questions to csz_stl@swbell.net