History of the region based on the materials of archeological excavations” is being opened on the lowest floor of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple with the refectory. It is the first full exhibition representing archaeology of the Belozersk district in the Vologda Region. Materials of the monastery archeology are displayed for the first time in our region. More than 4000 archeological objects dating back to different chronological periods are represented there: from the Mesolithic period (9000 B.C.) till the late Middle Ages.

Monk’s cell

At the end of the 20th – early 21st century considerable restoration work has been carried out in the Kirillo-Belozersky museum-reserve. Museumfication of the monuments is being realized at the same time. One of the most interesting architectural buildings of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is the Monks’ cells. In the process of its restoration architects and restorers managed to discover complicated structure of this dwelling house of the 17th-19th centuries.

Folk art of the Belozersk district

Exhibitions dedicated to the folk applied art and handicrafts of the Belozersk district are placed in the spacious vaulted chambers of the monastery cook-house of the 16th century. An important place is occupied by wood-carving, ceramics, peasant embroidery, weaving, lace-making and a folk female costume of the 19th-early 20th centuries.

News

07.06.2013

“Ivan the Terrible, Grand Prince of Moscow and Tsar of All Russia, asks humbly…”

Many tourists think that the comedy of Leonid Gaidai “Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession” was shot in the Kirillo-Belozersky museum-reserve. Of course, that is not so. But there is an episode in the film mentioning the ancient monastery when the heroes of the comedy saw Tsar Ivan the Terrible dictating the following phrase to his clerk: “Ivan the Terrible, Grand Prince of Moscow and Tsar of All Russia, asks Father Superior Kosma humbly”.

The thing is that 440 years ago, in September 1537, Ivan the Terrible wrote an application “The Letter to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery” which became one of the most famous documents of the 16^th century. It was addressed to Father Superior Kosma who headed the monastery at that time.

Meanwhile, this document wasn’t an application. Beginning with self-minimizing words, Ivan the Terrible gradually turned to the main goal of the letter – he accused the monastery brethren of violating the discipline.

You can find detailed information about the tsar’s letter in the article entitled “On the occasion of the 440^th anniversary of the “Letter to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery”. It was written by museum employee O.G. Kuzmichyova.

© 1924-2014 “Kirillo-Belozerki State Historical Architectural Art museum-reserve”
+7 (81757) 3-17-35 Kirillo-Belozerki museum-reserve, Kirillov town, Vologda region, Russia

The project is implemented within the programme of support for fine arts museums in the provinces of Russia "Museums of the Russian North" supported by "Severstal" PLC and "CAF" (Charities Aid Foundation)