On November 1, 2024 in the concert hall «Zaryadye» in Moscow took place a concert and exhibition program dedicated to the outstanding ascetics of mercy — Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880) and Saint Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna (1864-1918).
A concert and exhibition program dedicated to the outstanding ascetics of mercy — Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880) and Saint Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna (1864-1918).
The musical evening consisted of two sections devoted to the traditions of mercy and charity of Imperial Russia in the late 19th — early 20th century.
The musical evening consisted of two sections dedicated to the traditions of mercy and charity of Imperial Russia in the late 19th — early 20th century.
The first branch «A feat in the name of love» — a story about Empress Maria Alexandrovna. In 2024 it will be 200 years since the birth of the Empress, who during her lifetime was called «a kind-hearted sorrower of the Russian people, who set the task of her earthly existence to alleviate the plight of the unfortunate». The august philanthropist applied her skills and talents for the benefit of enlightenment and the development of women's education and care for her Fatherland during the years of war and in times of peace. Empress Maria Alexandrovna was the founder and patroness of the Russian Red Cross Society.
Great Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, was dedicated to the second section of the concert — «White Angel of Moscow». This dedication was timed to coincide with the 160th anniversary of her birth and the 140th anniversary of the wedding of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.
The concert featured musical and literary works by classical and contemporary authors: Dmitry Bortniansky, Johannes Brahms, John Tavener, Peter Koryagin, Sofia Kruglova and others, united in a story about the lives of the heroines of the evening.
The concert included music and literary works by classical and contemporary authors: Dmitry Bortniansky, Johannes Brahms, John Tavener, Peter Koryagin, Sofia Kruglova and others.
The concert, directed by R.G. Gundyaeva, was attended by a choir of students of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy — an educational institution where future church and clergy regularly undergo social practice, thus joining the great cause of mercy and continuing the tradition of Maria Alexandrovna and Elizaveta Feodorovna.
The concert was directed by R.G. Gundyaeva.
The participants of the concert program include: The orchestra of the State Academic Symphonic Chapel of Russia (artistic director — People's Artist of Russia Valery Polyansky), the Moscow Synodal Choir (artistic director — Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Puzakov), the choir «Renaissance» choir of the «Joy» center (Artistic Director — Honored Artist of Russia, winner of awards of the President and Government of Russia and Moscow Mayor's Office Tatiana Zhdanova); children's department of the Moscow Synodal Choir (Artistic Director &mdash head — Natalia Asmus).
The evening was moderated by Irina Kupchenko, People's Artist of the RSFSR, and Sergey Kruglikov, PhD in Philosophy, author of the channel «Thus»
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After the concert, the chairman of the Teaching Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church Protopriest Maxim Kozlov shared his impressions:
«This evening had everything that one wants to see as often as possible at church events held in secular cultural institutions: a high level of music performance, a meaningful and delicate selection of music, highly professional performers, a beautiful video sequence and a very poised and tactfully chosen text about two outstanding women of Russian history.
In the concert program there was no moralizing, making it easy to "put meanings" in the heads of those who were present. For this a special huge gratitude to those who formed, comprehended and built the program of the evening. For me personally, the opening for me was the performance of the children's group of the Synodal Choir conducted by Natalia Asmus: the small number of children's group sounded very worthy next to the magnificent adult choirs.
On the other hand, I For the first time I saw Raisa Gundyaeva as an orchestra conductor rather than a church choir regent. For me, our musical culture now has another significant, distinctive and colorful conductor whose concerts I will try to follow whenever possible.
Light of day.
In light of such a beautiful performance, it is impossible not to return to the very images of Maria Alexandrovna and Elizabeth Feodorovna. They are — the brightest testimony of how the best that was in Christian Europe could rise to the highest level when embraced by Orthodoxy. Both were reared in a Hessian home, German by blood, and born of the Lutheran denomination. However, when they came to Russia, they not only consciously embraced Orthodoxy and became deeply and consistently church people, but, in a sense, more consistent in Christianity than their spouses. They combined with the accepted Orthodoxy those good and bright traditions of Christian Europe, which were not discarded by them, but grafted onto the tree of Universal Orthodoxy.
It is very desirable that the performance and the project will not remain a one-time event, that people in other cities will be able to see it and that the highest bar that was set at the concert will be maintained by the organizers in the future.
It is very desirable that the performance and the project will not remain a one-time event, that people in other cities will be able to see it and that the highest bar that was set at the concert will be maintained by the organizers in the future.
At the concert among the hierarchs and honorable The rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Bishop Siluan of Peterhof, and E.M. Gundyaeva, vice-rector for culture and dean of the Academy's Faculty of Church Arts, were present.
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The project is supported by the Department of Culture of the Moscow City Government and the Foundation for Assistance to the Revival of Traditions of Mercy and Charity «Elizabeth-Sergius Enlightenment Society».
.Organizers: Foundation for the Revival of the Moscow Synodal Choir, ANO PCDMC «Land of Resurrection», St. Petersburg Theological Academy.
Before the beginning of the concert program in the foyer of the hall «Zaryadye» Foundation «Elizabeth-Sergius Enlightenment Society» presented a poster exhibition for the 200th anniversary of Empress Maria Alexandrovna «Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Life as a feat of Christian mercy»
.The exhibition aroused great interest of visitors during the exposition in the Moscow region and in the Republic of Crimea. Also to the attention of the audience is the exposition devoted to the Grand-Ducal couple — Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizabeth Fyodorovna «The path to sainthood». Sections of the exhibition are devoted to the life and charitable activities of the august couple, who headed more than 100 charitable institutions, their The exhibitions are complemented by leaflets and thematic literature from the scientific library of the USEPA Foundation. The exhibitions are supplemented with leaflets and thematic literature of the scientific library of the USPF Foundation.
.Press Service of SPbDA/Patriarchy.ru
