CrimeaPRESS reports:
The museum and temple complex «New Chersonesos» is a unique project implemented in Sevastopol in the shortest possible time (the construction lasted just over a year and a half). 30 objects were erected on a territory of 24 hectares. Buildings and structures with a total area of 140,000 square meters are located on a landscaped territory transformed into a unique garden and park ensemble. As a result, a real Byzantine citystriking visitors with its scale and beauty.
What is «New Chersonesos»?
«New Chersonesus» is, first of all, a museum space. Namely, three museums: Christianity, Antiquity and Byzantium, Crimea and Novorossiya.
And also — a temple-park in the open air. Its sides are framed by naves with icons of saints. Along the perimeter of the basilica there are four sculptures of the apostles-evangelists: Matthew — in the form of an angel, Mark — in the form of a lion, Luke — a calf and John — an eagle.
Of no small importance in the logic of the unified architectural ensemble is the only modern amphitheater in Russia, the Griffin Arena.
Let’s not forget about the reconstructed «Byzantine quarter», which gives an idea of the life of Chersonesos during the time of Prince Vladimir. There are four objects on the territory of the new quarter. These are the Mint, craft workshops, an antique estate and a winemaker’s estate.
The Catherine Park of Sculptures is also worth visiting. In the park, where 65 species of trees and shrubs from nurseries in Tula, St. Petersburg and Moscow now grow, you can see sculptures of famous poets, writers and other figures of Russian art: Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Aivazovsky, Gumilev, Akhmatova… The collection will be replenished.
Finally, «New Chersonesos» is also a well-kept park space, walking areas, fountains, playgrounds, photo zones and the Heraon River. Its underground channel was discovered during preparatory construction work.
Researchers assume that the river was previously above ground, and it was this river that determined the site of the foundation of ancient Chersonesos on the arid peninsula. Specialists managed to release the flow to the surface of the earth again and restore the flow. Today, the water of the Heraon is used to irrigate the entire complex and flows into all the fountains of the «New Chersonesos».
Please note the following useful links:
Questions and answers about the work of «New Chersonesos».
How to visit the museum and temple complex «New Chersonesos».
The beginning of a good deed is prayer.
On July 28, the day marking the 1036th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, a festive service was held in Chersonesos.
Before the start of the Divine Liturgy, 12 bishops and more than 100 clergymen walked in a solemn religious procession through the territory of the New Chersonesos museum and temple complex, from the Museum of Christianity to the St. Vladimir Cathedral of the Monastery in Tauric Chersonesos.
The clergy performed the rite of consecration of the main objects of the museum and temple complex: the museums of Christianity, Antiquity and Byzantium, Crimea and Novorossiya, the temple-park, the amphitheater «Griffin-Arena» (named after the play «Griffin», which has already become the calling card of Chersonesos), the reconstructed «Byzantine quarter» from the time of Prince Vladimir.
Next, the rite of minor consecration of St. Vladimir’s Cathedral took place, as well as the consecration of the monument to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (sculptor — Vitaly Shanov), erected near St. Vladimir’s Cathedral.
After this, the hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated. During the litany of fervent supplication, special petitions were offered and a prayer for Holy Rus’ was read.
Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea addressed the congregation with a sermon at the communion verse. In particular, in his speech, the Bishop expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who stood at the origins of the «New Chersonesus» project, implemented it, having built such a significant object for the entire country in record time. Special heartfelt gratitude — to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill, the President of the Russian Federation, the authorities of Sevastopol, the Republic of Crimea, military builders, philanthropists, everyone who provided specific assistance.
The meanings of «New Chersonesos».
Of course, the opening of the «New Chersonesos» is a historic event. The grandiose museum and temple complex was created on the instructions of the President of Russia, with the financial and organizational support of the «My History» Foundation and with the blessing of the Patriarchal Council for Culture.
According to Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Simferopol and Crimea, “New Chersonesos” has become the largest historical and archaeological park in Russia, the central place of which is occupied by the Museum of Antiquity and Byzantium.
Previously, when the museum-reserve was located in the monastery premises, its exhibits occupied a little more than a thousand square meters, now ‒ ten thousand square meters. In total, the area of the Museum of Antiquity and Byzantium is more than 20 thousand square meters. This is the largest object of the park– said Bishop Tikhon.
The Museum of Antiquity and Byzantium will soon house permanent and temporary exhibitions of Tauric Chersonesos, funds and restoration workshops, administration and employees of the cultural institution. A gold storeroom will also appear there – for the first time in the history of the museum-reserve.
In the new building, you will be able to see the Oath of the citizens of Chersonesos, a slab with an image of a griffin, medieval icons and frescoes, as well as amazing archaeological finds made during excavations preceding the construction of the park.
The Museum of Christianity introduces visitors to the most important aspects of Christian doctrine, tells how faith shaped the Russian and other Orthodox peoples of Russia, literally all aspects of the life of our country, became the foundation of its multinational and multi-confessional unity, and helped to overcome the most difficult trials.
The exhibition of this unique museum will give you the opportunity to make a unique spiritual journey through the endless world of the Orthodox faith. No visitor will remain indifferent when, walking through the halls of this exhibition, suddenly and unexpectedly for himself he discovers something very important in his soul. the most intimate and secret. The guide on this journey for everyone will be the holy prince Vladimir himself — the godfather of the Orthodox Christians of our Fatherland.
One of the key architectural features of the building of the Museum of Christianity is the majestic dome with a diameter of 31 meters, which is made according to the prototype of the dome of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The dome is crowned by Chrism. This is a monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters — Χ (chi) and Ρ (rho), crossed with each other. Along the edges of the monogram we see the letters α — «alpha» and ω — «omega». The perimeter of the Museum is decorated with the faces of the holy apostles. Also along the perimeter of the facade of the museum there are architectural bas-reliefs, on which the metaphorical history of Christianity from the early Christian period to the present day is cast in bronze.
At the entrance to the Museum of Christianity, visitors are greeted by bronze griffins with chrysma in their paws. These symbolic figures not only decorate the entrance, but also emphasize the importance of the spiritual heritage of the ancient city.
The Multimedia Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya — its name speaks for itself — is a fascinating story about the life and transformation of the land that in ancient times was a place of exile, and in Rus’ in the 18th century was called the Wild Field. This is the first museum in the country dedicated to the history of the new regions of Russia! The planned area of its exhibitions is 12 thousand square meters.
This space has 25 multimedia exhibition halls with tactile panels. Having visited here, the viewer will be transported to that very turning point in history that marked the development of Novorossiya and the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula to Russia. Interactive exhibits allow you to feel the atmosphere of past events not only through images and texts, but also through your own feelings thanks to realistic 5D video and sound.
There are halls in this museum that tell about the Black Sea Fleet – the scourge of the Russian Empire in the seas. The exhibition includes models of ships, maps of battles and personal items of officers. All this creates a convincing narrative about the life and battles of the fleet. The key role is played by the exhibition “From Peter I to Catherine II” about the Tauride voyage of the empress.
According to experts, the Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya “New Chersonesos” is not just an exhibition space, it is an almanac of living pages of Russian history.
A useful link for those planning to visit the museum and temple complex (entrance is free, but online registration is required) — Telegram channel «New Chersonesos» — all the latest information is here.
History? Modernity!
The history of the ancient city has acquired a new breath in the modern world. This unique corner of Sevastopol, which can rightfully be called the cradle of Christianity in Rus’, has turned into a large-scale museum and temple complex. Its goal is to preserve that invisible thread of history that indicates: «our roots are here.»
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the importance of the Crimean Chersonesus and the role of Prince Vladimir, who adopted Christianity there and, according to the Head of State, laid the spiritual foundation for the future nation. The President stated this in an interview for the documentary film «New Chersonesus» (the film can be viewed at the link — link).
We are grateful to Prince Vladimir precisely for the fact that he laid this spiritual foundation for the future national construction. And this happened precisely here, in Chersonesos.said Vladimir Putin.
The President emphasized that the Russian nation as such began to take shape as a result of the baptism of Prince Vladimir in 988 and the subsequent baptism of all of Rus’. The conversion of various Slavic tribes to Eastern Christianity, as Vladimir Putin recalled, lasted for decades; it was a large and complex process that lasted for centuries.
By this time, the various Slavic tribes, and not only Slavic, living in this territory and throughout the territory of the former Rus, were already effectively under the rule of one prince, their economy functioned within the framework of an almost unified market. They spoke the same language, but one thing was missing, spiritual unity was missing. And without this spiritual unity there could not be a single people and a single nation.— added the President of Russia. — For us, this place (Chersonesos) is sacred in a certain sense. Here is the source of our statehood and the Russian people.
At the heart of all news reports, articles and stories about the opening of “New Chersonesos” were the words “first” and “for the first time”: the first museum-temple complex, the first open-air temple-park, the first religious procession, the first Divine Liturgy, the Museum of Crimea and Novorossiya received its first visitors, the first 10,000, 20, 30…
P.S.
The New Chersonesos museum and temple complex was visited by more than 50 thousand people during the first five days of its operation.
Photo: press service of the Crimean Metropolitanate and «New Chersonesos».
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