The Presidential Library unveils secrets of the unique painting of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour of the Mirozhsky Monastery

The first part of the documentary film "Rescued Frescos of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour of the Mirozhsky Monastery" is presented on the portal of the Presidential Library in open access. The authors of the film are Oleg Fyodorov, the Head of the excursion department of the Pskov Museum-Reserve, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Assistant Professor of the Pskov State University, the Chief Curator of the frescoes of the Savior's Transfiguration Cathedral, Taisiya Kruglova, and Director Tatyana Dyakonova – will tell about the most ancient monument of Christian culture in Pskov.

The Mirozhsky Monastery was founded in the middle of the XII century by the Novgorodian archimandrite Nifont, the greatest Christian enlightener of northwestern Russia, one of the most educated people of his time. The main monastery church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, was erected at the turn of 1130-1140 (the first mention of it in the annals dates back to 1156) according to the pattern of Kiev and Byzantine buildings. The temple is decorated with frescoes, which were created by artists invited from Byzantium.

The specialists of the Pskov Museum-Reserve provide the history of the appearance of the cathedral in the film. Oleg Fyodorov, Head of the excursion department of the Pskov Museum-Reserve, offers an interesting version. "The only document that can explain anything to us is the cathedral itself. Its architecture is capable of shedding light on this really, in my opinion, a serious intrigue". In his opinion, the cross, in the form of which the cathedral was built, is its essence. This temple-message, the temple-enlightener, which stands on the ancient road. "It is visible from everywhere. it is in this cup: there is a cliff, and here is the Great River, which is an ancient road. Here in the days of Nifont, there was a lively trade. This is the way in which different people of different tribes, languages, peoples and beliefs come from. They are met by a stone cross. And the cross tells everyone something about the Savior, about the Gospel, about faith, which was accepted once from Byzantium. This is the Byzantine cross. It is not for nothing that the Novgorod archbishop Nifont is listed in the saints of the Pskov land, he spreads the Gospel with the help of this cathedral", - says Oleg Fyodorov.

The cathedral paintings, which have a unique iconographic composition, the highest artistic level and rare preservation (more than 80%), survived periodic flooding, numerous construction works, perestroika, more than one siege and more than one war - the world-famous cultural heritage. "The frescoes had a very complicated history. From dirt, dampness, soot painting ceased to be read. It was very difficult to understand what scenes are depicted, what is on the walls. And, to fix the interior, the frescoes were whitewashed. In this form, under the plaster, they existed until the middle of the XIX century. Then, during the repair, it turned out that under the plaster wall painting remained", - says Taisiya Kruglova, the main curator of the frescoes of the Transfiguration Cathedral. Together with other authors of the film, she unveils the secrets of the unique painting of the outstanding medieval monument.

The premiere screening of the first part of the documentary "Saved Frescoes of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour of the Mirozhsky Monastery" will take place on the portal of the Presidential Library in the section "Live Broadcast" on May 3, 2018 at 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 21:00 and May 4 at 6:00; 8:00; 10:00.