Mintimer Shaimiev visited the island town of Sviyazhsk

Yesterday, RT State Councilor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National fund for  revival of monuments of history and culture of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev visited the island Sviyazhsk.

He was accompanied by  Executive Director of the National Fund "Revival", Deputy Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Tatiana Larionova, Minister of Culture Ayrat Sibagatullin, Minister of Transport and Roads of the Republic of Tatarstan Lenar Safin,  Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism of Tatarstan Sergei Ivanov, Head of Zelenodolsk region  Alexander Tygin, Rector of KFU Ilshat Gafurov, Director of the Institute of Archaeology named   after  A.H.Khalikov,   RT AS Ayrat Sitdikov, Head of the Volga branch of the UNESCO Chair in Urban and Architectural Conservation of Monuments Rafael Valeev, Director of the museum "The Island of Sviyazhsk" Artem Silkin, RT Director of the State Museum of Fine Arts  RT Rosalia Nurgaleeva and other officials.

The guests visited the exhibition "Holy warrior  Christopher", which opened on August 8  at  the exhibition hall of the State Historical and Architectural Museum "The Island of Sviyazhsk." The exhibition is organized with  support of the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan. The idea of ​​the exhibition is associated with a unique fresco depicting St. Christopher the Martyr with a horse's head, dating from the second half of the XVI century in  Assumption Cathedral of Sviyazhsk.

The guests   were  familiarized with  exposition  by  deputy director "of the State Historical and Architectural Museum" The Island  town of Sviyazhsk " Svetlana Frolova.

Despite  fairly wide range of monuments  of  XVI-XVII centuries (churches and icons), dedicated to this saint, Christopher Sviazhsky’s image remains one of the oldest and most authentically preserved images  that underscores  a unique value of the outstanding murals of the Assumption Cathedral. The purpose of the exhibition project "Holy Warrior Christopher" - shows the importance of the image of St. Christopher warrior in the world of spiritual culture and define the role of the frescoes of St. Christopher at the Assumption Cathedral in  history of Russian Orthodox culture. The exhibition is the largest inter-regional museum project. It involves 17 museums and open-air museums from 11 regions of the Russian Federation: Astrakhan, Vladimir-Suzdal, Vologda, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Yaroslavl reserve museums, the State Historical Museum in Moscow, the Museum of the History of Religion St. Petersburg; Moscow Kremlin Museums, the Perm Regional Museum and others.

Mintimer Shaimiev highly appreciated the work of organizing the exposure. "The exhibition of images of the warrior saint Christopher is held in Russia for the first time. It presents more than 20 very valuable images and icons. I really liked it. I think that we rarely  show this  legacy. When preparing such a unique exhibition, you need to provide for their wide display of the population, the people need it. The exhibition is valuable by the fact that we are now engaged in  preparation of the nomination of the Assumption Cathedral for  recognition of its world-wide universal value and including  in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the wall there is a picture of the Cathedral of St. Christopher, which is a rare phenomenon preserved. In preparing  nomination, we show the wealth that lies on the Russian soil. " He thanked the representatives of the Russian museums, those who  brought here these valuable artifacts and those who are allowed to show in the  Sviyazhsk Museum  these icons and murals. "Now we have this situation: you can plunge into history, art and culture. Museum treasures have been  brought to us, only  find the time and become richer spiritually, "- he said.

Today, close to the museum "The Island   town of  Sviyazhsk",  opening the Children's Museum Centre   took place, which is housed in a building dating to the standard design of the first half of the 19th century. It is intended for tourists traveling with children of preschool and early school age. During a day of sightseeing, parents can leave their children under  supervision of the teacher-educator.

Speaking at the opening ceremony with the participation of children - the characters from fairy tales by Alexander Pushkin and Kayum Nasyrov, Mintimer Shaimiev called the idea of ​​creating a center of an amazing discovery, and its opening -   a touching event.

Children's museum center in Sviyazhsk - a place of cultural and creative development of the child. Thanks to specialized installations, interactive gaming zone and museum educational programs, children's center allows each young visitor to join the cultural heritage - Russian and Tatar fairy tales - tales by  Alexander Pushkin and the famous Tatar educator Kayum Nasyri.

"We looked at the  Children's museum dedicated to the works by  Pushkin and Nasyry, 190th anniversary of whose birth is celebrated this year. Kayum  Nasyri - an outstanding echolar, educator, who has done much for  development of our literature. Once  we entered the Center – all  children immediately went to the corners, it is interesting. The exposition is  made  talented, a beautiful in-depth  design. We  saw  also a green oak at lukomoriye, and a smart  cat ... In a word, everything that is contained  in a valuable work of our geniuses - is our common heritage "- said State Councilor of the Republic of Tatarstan  after visiting the Children's museum center.

Furthermore, guests moved  to the river station, where  currently  working   are under way  on  creation of the Museum of Archaeology of wood, which is  to  be simultaneously and educational center of the Kazan Federal University.

On  concept of the museum told  a  well-known  in the  republic  famous architect and restorer of the highest category, engaged in the monuments of ancient architecture, project consultant of the Museum of Archaeology of wood Alexander Popov and  director of the Institute of Archaeology named A.H.Khalikov  Ayrat Sitdikov.

Education Center of KFUI on  restoration of archaeological wood and organic matter  has been presented on  tablets    by the Kazan  University Rector Ilshat Gafurov.

"Now we got down to business, which is very important for the future of the island and enriching  cultural heritage - the first in  Russia, the   Museum of Archaeology of wood. Advanced technology and competent scientific support will enable to save here all that is found in  excavations. This is a very serious, a new branch of science. In November this year we will complete  main construction works, and then begin the process of museumification "-  Mintimer Shaimiev said.

"In  Bolgar and Sviyazhsk,   all that  planned is being implemented. The flow of tourists is growing strongly, and we need to keep up to create the conditions for them. While we are not ably serve the people. We must do everything to ensure that people are receiving  knowledge and  pleasure of visiting. This - the image of the republic, we - hospitable people,  and it is necessary to make that visitors might  feel  it. It is necessary to improve  logistics of interconnected tourist routes  between   Bolgar and   Sviyazhsk  by  water and  land. We are now starting to think about that. We will not stop. We are on  constructive  march, "- he concluded.

At the end of a visit to the island Mintimer Shaimiev met with archaeologists - the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Science named   after  A.H.Khalikov,  and congratulated them on their professional holiday - the Day of  archaeologist, which is traditionally celebrated on August 15th.

Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan