Novgorodians are invited to see the "Temples of Peace" in the Temple of Science

While students and teachers are resting, the "city-university" keeps its doors hospitably open not only for applicants, but also for everyone. The day before, a large exhibition of paintings "Temples of the World" opened in the gallery of the assembly hall in Antonov. In total, the collection currently contains about 300 works by the artist Alexey Rychkov. Only a small part came to Novgorod State University. But - to the delight of the city residents - Novgorod churches were included.

A temple is not just a building. As the organizers emphasize, this is a fact of contact between faith and art. In these temples - from Greek to ours, Russian - there is a connection between times, generations and entire nations. But the exhibition, in addition to spiritual and cultural, also has a social significance. And especially for those who serve the law and justice in Veliky Novgorod and the region.

"The Law of God says: "In the beginning was the Word." But social relations and the order between people on earth are regulated by other laws - human ones. And this exhibition is timed to coincide with a big holiday: July 3 marks the thirtieth anniversary of legal education in the Novgorod region," said Nikolai TSVETKOV, head of the department of state and legal disciplines at the Novgorod State University Law Institute and member of the organizing committee for the exhibition.

Many people, when talking about self-respect, think somewhat egocentrically. The author of the project, collector and philanthropist Viktor Shirokih looks at it differently: it is impossible to respect and sensibly love oneself without loving the heritage left by our ancestors. However, this also presupposes responsibility for preserving this heritage in modern times, involvement in it, participation in its fate – otherwise it turns out that a person is simply trying to assert his significance without making any special effort.

Some Novgorodians – probably like residents of other ancient cities with the richest cultural and architectural heritage – sometimes “sin” with a blurred view of their native city, forgetting about its world value. “Temples of Peace” is an excellent opportunity for Novgorodians to see their native churches in the same row with not only Russian, but also European, Caucasian churches, and to take a new look at their beauty, to love them “anew” and admire them.

"I am originally from Ryazan, so I started with Ryazan churches. Then, when I saw Pskov, Novgorod - I was simply struck. That's where all the power and beauty is, that's where you should have been born! In Ryazan, alas, about 57 churches were destroyed, only a small Kremlin remained - a very small piece of ancient architecture," says artist Alexey RYCHKOV.

In the part of the exhibition that is on display in Veliky Novgorod, you can find two "Novgorod" paintings: one depicts Sophia, and the other - the Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Interestingly, the latter was painted based on a pre-revolutionary postcard: to the left and right of the temple are wooden houses, which, of course, are now nowhere to be found. Thus, the inquisitive viewer, who is familiar with the modern appearance of the city, is also encouraged by the works to conduct a historical excursion.

Please note that the exhibition will run until July 31. Admission is free from Monday to Friday during business hours – from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 16:00.

Photo by Lyudmila Stepiko,

illustration-postcard from the archive of the Museum of Christian Art of the Moscow Theological Academy