MThA Museum Of Christian Art Receives Icon Of St. Sergius Of Radonezh As A Gift From Grigory Leps

On June 22, a ceremony for the donation of an icon of the saint from the personal collection of the famous Russian musician Grigory Leps took place in the exhibition hall of the Moscow Theological Academy Museum of Christian Art, where the personal belongings of St. Sergius of Radonezh are displayed.

Opening the event, the Museum Director A.S. Novikov noted: 

"Two years ago - on June 22, 2024 - the icon of the Holy Trinity, painted by St. Andrei Rublev, returned to the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and this event became especially significant for the entire Russian Church and national history. Today, on the day commemorating this celebration, the Moscow Theological Academy Museum received an image of St. Sergius as a gift from Grigory Viktorovich Leps, which is also very symbolic. I hope that the project we have planned, God willing, can be realized soon. We would like to expand the exhibition area of our museum so that it occupies not only this second floor but also the first, meaning the halls located under the Tsar's Palaces. We intend to dedicate a separate hall to St. Sergius of Radonezh, where this image will certainly be a special ornament".

Anton Sergeyevich thanked the guest for the priceless gift and conveyed the kindest best wishes from the Academy Rector and Abbot of the Trinity Monastery, Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov. 

A quartet under the direction of the Lavra choir regent, Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov), performed the troparion, kontakion, and glorification of St. Sergius, as well as the hymn "Rus Is Called Holy".

The Chief Researcher of the State Historical Museum and Doctor of Philology, E.M. Yukhimenko, spoke about the significance and history of the donated image: 

"This icon was first exhibited at the State Historical Museum in 2014 as part of the 'Abode Of St. Sergius' exhibition project, dedicated to the 700th anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Grigory Viktorovich, having acquired this amazing icon, presented it for the first time at this wonderful exhibition, which gathered a large audience of specialists and the general public. The presented image is quite unique, primarily because it is a monumental piece of art and, furthermore, it has truly sacred significance. It is an exact 19th-century copy of an icon made on the coffin lid of St. Sergius. Similar images are unknown today. Now all the relics associated with Abba Sergius are joined and kept together. This truly supreme gift, made by Grigory Viktorovich out of the goodness of his heart, will be in great demand by museum visitors and will become one of the central exhibits for future expositions dedicated to St. Sergius. 

It is also worth noting the exceptional quality of this icon and its preservation. There is no doubt that this is a work of Ivan Malyshev's workshop, which was located at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. It must be said that this image, despite other images created in Malyshev's workshop, is one of its best works. I believe that in the Moscow Theological Academy museum, which houses so many relics and monuments of our history and culture - church, secular, and pilgrim - this will be a landmark exhibit. Great thanks to Grigory Viktorovich for such an opportunity".

Then Grigory Leps addressed the gathering. He noted: 

"I was happy to present this unique image to the general public in 2014, the year of the 700th anniversary of St. Sergius. In connection with the icon's exhibition at the State Historical Museum, scholars had the opportunity to study this image. They confirmed that the monumental icon dates to the mid-19th century and is an exact copy of the ancient miraculous image of St. Sergius, painted in 1585 by the decree of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich on the coffin lid of the wonderworker. This image became famous for its healing power during the cholera epidemic of 1848. Over time, I became convinced that this image of the Saint should be kept in the place where he lived and offered his prayers to God, and where his holy relics rest. Here, within the walls of the Museum of Christian Art, the personal belongings of St. Sergius are kept. Thus, Orthodox people, pilgrims, students, teachers, staff of the Moscow Theological Academy, and general museum visitors will be able to see this image of powerful spiritual force"..

After the official part, museum staff conducted a tour for Grigory Viktorovich, after which the guest prayed at the Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra by the Holy Trinity icon and the relics of St. Sergius.

MThA Press Office