On August 15, 2024, the exhibition «Under the Protection of Saint Alexander Nevsky», timed to the 300th anniversary of the transfer of the saint's relics to St. Petersburg, opened at the State Memorial Museum «St. Isaac's Cathedral» in the Northern Capital.
For the first time, two unique works of facial sewing from the 17th century, on which the Grand Duke is represented in iconography, are presented at the same exposition.
For the first time at one exposition are presented two unique works of facial sewing of the XVII century, on which the Grand Duke is represented in the iconography of the Venerable: a hanging veil from the collection of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve and a veil kept in the Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve.
The Vicar of Alexandro-Nevsky Lavra Bishop of Kronstadt Veniamin served a prayer service to the saint, accompanied by the cathedral's clergyman Archpriest Roman Kovalsky, Hieromonk Alexy (Stepanov) and clerics.
Alexandro-Nevsky Lavra Bishop of Kronstadt Veniamin.
Director of the State Museum of St. Isaac's Cathedral «Isaac's Cathedral» Yuri Mudrov welcomed the guests.
Vladika Veniamin recalled that images of the saint appeared in the XVI century after his canonization. Traditionally, he was depicted as having taken the schema before his death in monastic clothes (robe, kukol). The situation with the iconography of Alexander Nevsky changed in 1724 after the transfer of his relics to St. Petersburg. In the same year a decree of the Holy Synod was issued commanding the saint to «in a monk's person no one should write, … but to write that image in the robes of the Grand Duchess»
Deputy Director of the Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve Natalia Grigorieva gave Yuri Mudrov and Vladyka Veniamin a welcome address from the Director of the Museum, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism Metropolitan Theognost of Kashir.
Metropolitan Theognost of Kashir.
The curator of the exhibition, head of the historical department of the Sergiev Posad Museum-Reserve Tatiana Tokareva said that the history of the shroud and the cover is connected with the Nativity of the Virgin Monastery in Vladimir, where Prince Alexander Yaroslavich was buried in 1263.
The veil, created in 1613 by the nun Paraskeva (Solova), according to legend, hung on the wall above the burial place of Alexander Nevsky. It was probably suspended from the now lost icon depicting the saint.
The cover for the saint's casket was embroidered by craftswomen of the Stroganov workshop in the 1670-80s. The iconographic uniqueness of the image is given by the closed eyes, the figures of cherubim embroidered on the doll and epitrachil, and the text on the unrolled scroll.
Saint Alexander Nevsky has been revered as the protector and heavenly patron of the Russian land since the XIV century. The historical example of the prince was extremely important for the great transformer of Russia, Tsar Peter the Great. On August 30, 1724 the relics of the saint arrived in the first monastery of the capital.
The exhibition is open until October 15 during the opening hours of the museum.
The exhibition is open until October 15 during museum opening hours.
St. Petersburg Metropolitan Church/Patriarchy.ru
