Museum of the History of Orthodoxy in the Kuznetsk Region

About museum

Created on November 3, 2010, with the blessing of His Grace Aristarch, Bishop of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk (now Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk), the Museum of the History of Orthodoxy in the Kuznetsk region became the first church museum in this area. Today it hosts the following exhibitions and displays: 'Orthodox icons, 16th–20th centuries', 'Memorial office of the first ruling bishop Sophronius (Budko)', 'Metropolitan Evlogy (Smirnov): Service to God, the Church, and Kuzbass', and '15th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of the Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk Aristarch (Smirnov)'. Here visitors can learn about Russia's religious and historical heritage and see masterpieces of Russian icon painting from the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, furniture items, liturgical vestments, awards, and photographic and documentary materials documenting the life and episcopal ministry of Aristarch, Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk.