Opening of the exhibition

15.01.2026

On January 15, with the blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', the grand opening of the Moscow Novodevichy Convent's exhibition, "The Great Russian Northern Route: A Golden Thread of Centuries," took place in the exhibition halls of the Russian Spiritual and Cultural Orthodox Center on the Quai Branly in Paris. The exhibition, organized by the Spiritual and Cultural Center and the Novodevichy Stavropegic Convent in Moscow with the support of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, commemorates the 500th anniversary of the convent's founding, a celebration included in the UNESCO calendar of commemorative dates.

Gathered in the exhibition halls were Russian diplomats, clergy from Parisian churches of the Korsun Diocese, journalists, Parisians, visitors to the French capital interested in Russian spiritual culture and history, and representatives of the Russian émigré community.

The exhibition opening ceremony began with a welcome address from Alexey Yuryevich Meshkov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to France. "The exhibition is dedicated to a 5,000-kilometer historical route that passes through 12 regions of Russia," said Meshkov. "The route begins in Moscow at the Novodevichy Convent and ends in the harsh north at Solovki. The path passes through ancient Russian churches and monastery complexes, 14 of which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites."

The head of the Russian diplomatic mission expressed sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the project: Abbess Margarita (Feoktistova) and the convent sisters, Elena Vladimirovna Markova, Director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Nation's Future, Elena Sergeevna Kutukova, Director of the Ladoga Skerries National Park, Ekaterina Zabegina, curator of the exhibition, and Anna Rusakova, photographer.

Abbess Margarita (Feoktistova), abbess of the Novodevichy Stavropegic Convent, then addressed the audience with a welcoming address, noting that "the exhibition is also dedicated to the ancient ecclesiastical art of gold embroidery, which the convent's sisters are reviving. These techniques were used by the gold embroiderers of the Novodevichy Convent during the reign of Tsarina Irina Godunova." Abbess Margarita explained that the current exhibition marks the beginning of a whole series of educational, historical, patriotic, and cultural initiatives uniting a large number of venues both in Russia and abroad.

Priest Georgy Sheshko, head of the cultural department of the Korsun Diocese, conveyed to the exhibition organizers the best wishes and words of support from Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsk, administrator of the Western European Exarchate and the Korsun Diocese. The official part concluded with an address by E.V. Markova, Vice-Rector of St. Tikhon's Orthodox University and Director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Nation's Future.

The exhibition "The Great Russian Northern Route: The Golden Thread of Centuries" aims to introduce visitors to the origins of the Novodevichy Convent's spiritual and artistic heritage. Beginning in the 16th century, shrouds, shrouds, and icons distinguished by their refined composition, complex decorative structure, and the highest level of craftsmanship were created here. Following the resumption of monastic life in 1994, a gradual return to ancient crafts began. Contemporary gold embroidery masters creatively interpret classical church motifs while preserving the characteristic features of the Moscow school—strict compositional precision, expressive iconographic images, delicate work with gold thread, and meticulous attention to ornamentation.

Gold embroidery is one of the most exquisite and labor-intensive forms of applied art. Embroidery is done on silk and velvet fabrics using gold and silver threads, pearls, precious stones, and small decorative elements. Each stitch requires extreme precision, and the creation of a single shroud can take several years.

The monastery's icon-painting workshop develops the principles of the Moscow school of icon painting, which developed in the 16th and 17th centuries. The works of the craftswomen are distinguished by the soft modeling of the faces and a restrained, noble palette, emphasizing the prayerful nature of the images.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from January 16 to February 28, 2026.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Admission by appointment.