January 5 was announced the Family Day in the museum and promised to be full of events.
The military and historical festival titled “Character of the North” began at noon. Members of historical reenactment club “Steel Helm”, the family club “Basis” and the fist-fighting group “Busa” performed within the ancient monastery walls. Reenactments of three fights unfolded there. Many people saw them with interest. Men could also participate in Russian strength contests, such as wall-to-wall fighting.
As for children, they took part in playing programs which were arranged near the festival ground: they participated in pillow fighting, ring-throwing, and walked on stilts. Those who felt cold warmed themselves at the fire and drank hot tea. Amateurs of beautiful photographs put on ancient costumes and posed for the camera.
The festival was concluded with a fire show. Performance of three girls of “Sun Rise” group (Cherepovets) was a success. They turned burning torches very skillfully.
The doll miniature club of People’s Master of Russia Marina Vasilieva was opened in one of the rooms in the fortifications of the New Town after the festival. There were so many people who wanted to look into the small room with charming dolls that they had to stand in a queue.
An official opening ceremony of the exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of the crowning of the first Romanov tsar – Mikhail Fyodorovich – was held in the House of the Father Superior on the same day. The history of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, one of the largest monasteries in Russia, was closely connected with the Romanov dynasty. Its representatives visited both the monastery and the town of Kirillov. According to the inventories and other documents, they made generous donations. Some of them are kept in the museum holdings. Many items are presented at the new exhibition which will be open during the whole year. First visitors have already seen it.
The vocal ensemble “White Lake” (Vologda) performed at the opening ceremony and then gave a concert in the Refectory thirty minutes later. Soloists of the ensemble executed various pieces, such as prayers, folk songs and songs composed to the verse of Russian poets.
