Museum 'Historical and Cultural Center Korennaya Pustyn'

About museum

On April 2, 1990 the Historical and Cultural Center 'Korennaya Pustyn' was founded; it began its activities in a small building constructed in the 19th century. On September 19, 1991 Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia visited the center, acknowledging the merits of its staff in collecting and organizing material related to the 'Korennaya Pustyn' monastery. By the time of the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the discovery on Kursk land of the miraculous Icon 'The Sign', a modern building had been constructed housing the museum, exhibition halls, a lounge and a concert hall. The museum's exhibition covers 387 sq. m. and reflects the history of the finding of the Icon of the Mother of God 'The Sign', the founding and construction of the 'Korennaya Pustyn' monastery, as well as the emergence and heyday of the Kursk Korenskaya Fair. The museum also features a section devoted to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCOR). In 2017 the center became a branch of the Kursk Regional Museum of Local Lore, and the main shrine of ROCOR, the Icon 'The Sign', was moved to the United States. Each year the museum is visited by more than 12,000 pilgrims.