Next to the ticket sales booth, there are two icons. The one on the top is called “Jesus blessing the children” and the other is the name sake icon of the cathedral, Uspenie or the Dormition of Virgin Mary. 

Jesus blesses the children is described in three different gospels in the Bible, Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16 and Luke 18:15-17. It depicts the importance of childlike faith when entering the kindgom of god. 

The Uspenie icon depicts the passing of Virgin Mary. In Orthodox tradition Virgin Mary died a natural death, like any other human. The icon also depicts all of the Apostles, except Thomas. The Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on the 15th of August, and this day is also the temple feast of the Uspenski cathedral.