Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich and Patriarch Nikon
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It acquaints with the most important events in the life of the Tsar and the Patriarch, which influenced the Russian history. The time of their friendship and understanding is accentuated.
The virtual visit of the display includes four halls. On viewing them, you would get the idea of the display and the most interesting and valuable exhibits. Hall 1 presents portraits of the Tsar and the Patriarch and items, linked to the birth of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich: a medallion with his hair, his measuring icon (made the same height as Alexis was born). Icon "Holy Nikita, stolpnik of Pereyaslavl with scenes 0of his life" in the reign of Alexis Mikhailovich was placed in the court church of Our Lady's Nativity. Particular attention is paid to the exhibits from the Solovetsky Monastery, a spiritual center, that played a great role in the lives of Nikon and Alexis Mikhailovich. An icon in the shape of a cross, images of Apostles Filippos and Anisim are descend from the Anzersky hermitage of the monastery.
Hall 2 presents exhibits, related to the Tsar Alexis' coronation of 1645 (the chain, the Persian throne of the late XVIth century, watercolours by F.G. Solntsev, depicting the Crown of Monomakh and the Orb of the Grand Set of Tsar Michael Fyodorovich Romanov), as well as items concerning the marriage of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovuch with Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya in 1648 (icon "Alexis, Man of God, and Mary of Egypt"), a shawl, marriage crowns, a ring, a cup, donated by Boyar Boris Mikhailovich Morozov, the Tsar's tutor). Note the chess-men of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich, a basin of a washing-set (used for hands' washing during official state ceremonies), a title-page of the Russian translation of the book on infantry art by Johann Jacobi Von Wallhausen, Danish military man ("Krigkunst zu Fuss", 1615). "Ucheniye i khitrost' ratnogo stroeniya pekhotnykh lyudei" ("Infantry art") was published on the order of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich in the Moscow Print Court and became a text-book for teaching of new regiments. These help to trace the Tsar's interests, both in his private life and in his state activities.
The way of Nikon from an abbot to the Patriarch can be traced in halls 2 and 3. They present the Patriarch's private staff and objects used by the Patriarchal Court.
The deeds of the Tsar and the Patriarch, historical events of Russia in the period of their administration are presented in halls 3 and 4. They concern the themes of reunion of Russia and the Ukraine in 1654 when the monetary system was unified (ruble); the Smolensk military campaign of 1654-57 (equestrian portrait of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich); forming of the idea of a particular mission of a Tsar in the Orthodox world coming from the Greek world (the barmas (collar) and orb executed in Istanbul), bringing of holies to Moscow from the lands of the Christian East occupied by the Turks (sakkos of Cyril Lukaris, Patriarch of Constantinople, building of churches by the Patriarch and foundation of new monasteries in the northern lands (diskos and Water Cup). Of particular value is the "Adoration of the Cross" icon. Painted on canvas, which is not typical for Russia, after Alexis Mikhailovich had died, it combined both images of the royal family members and the Patriarch on bended knees and became an evidence of the royal family's attempts to stop the dramatic relationship of the two extraordinary men and to remind the contemporaries of their past friendship and fruitful alliance.
Have a nice time!
