Red Communist Star on the Spire of the Kremlin on MP site?

[尼古拉前执事]

Does anyone find it odd that on the interior pages of the Moscow PAtriarchate pages that they would show a picture of the Kremlin with the Red Communist Star at the top of the spire on it?

For example, look at this inner graphic above the words "Patriarch":

Here is a quote from a Russian citizen concerned about it as well:

Kremlin spire is firmly assotiated with red star and communism. We had to see this picture (without churhces) in every news programme for many-many years in soviet times. Kremlin spire with red star is a simbol of soviet state.

[Seraphim Reeves]

While I have my doubts that this was a conscious move (having the red star in the picture, particularly above the word "Patriarch"), at the very least it strikes me as a very careless thing to include in a picture like this...it also tempts me in so far as I generally don't believe there is such a thing as a "coincidence" either.

Seraphim

[Joseph D]

This is no more bisarre than seeing an American flag at a Greek Orthodox Church. It may take some time to purge Russia of all the Commie monuments. Lenin's tomb, especially considering the pomp and ceremony surrounding it, may be the most disturbing. I think I would like to see a cross atop that red star, much in the fashion that we sometimes see a cross atop a sideways crecent, symbolizing the defeat of Islam.

Joseph

[Natasha]

Maybe it is there because to this day there are still those red stars (and other communist era symbols) all over Moscow. It is sad, but an accurate picture of the city. I asked my husband once why no one took all the stars, hammers & sickles down. He told me its because no one knows if there will be another revolution tomorrow. :ohvey: Pray for our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Russia.

[Natasha]

"....atop a sideways crecent, symbolizing the defeat of Islam."

I was always told that it had nothing to do with Islam. What is the correct interpretation of this? I used to know, but I am coming up blank right now...

[尼古拉前执事]

I asked Reader John Dunn of Heaven's Cupola since I know he makes cupolas like this. Here is what he said:

The use of the Cresent moon with the Cross has its origin in Byzantium, later Constaninople.  The Cresent moon was used as a symbol in Byzantium of the female diety which they believed had delivered them from a suprise attack from some enemies.  The suprise attack was foiled when a guard noticed the enemy creeping up towards the city walls by the light of a Cresent moon.  The attack was foiled, the city was saved and the credit was given to the moon goddess.

When Christianity entered into Byzantium through Constantine, the Cross was placed ontop of the Cresent moon to signify the triumph of Christianity over its former idolatry.  Later, the Cresent moon was adopted into Islam as a symbol, and because of that identity, when the Cross is seen over the Cresent moon it signifies the triumph of the Cross over the heresy of Islam. 

This latter explanation has become the more widely known and certainly has more current significance.

The Stars are placed upon the dome in representation of the Heavens, but people can find other reasons.  For example (some domes) will have 13 Stars, twelve for the Apostles and one for the Theotokos.