The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church

Mitre of Patriarchy Job
Russia, Moscow, 1595.
Damask, silver, satin, embroidery, gilding.
Chalice
Russia, Moscow, the Moscow Kremlin workshops, 1637.
Gold, precious stones, forging, embossing, engraving.
Sakkos "Kolomensky" of Patriarch Nikon
Embroidery - Russia, the XVIIth century, satin - Turkey, the XVIIth century.
Gilded satin, taffeta, velvet, weaving, embroidery.
Panagia
Сameo - Byzantium, the XIIth century, mounting - Russia, Moscow, 1671.
Chrysoprase, gold, precious stones, niello, enamels.
Mantle
Russia, the early ХХth century.
Rep, taffeta, velvet, weaving, embroidery, open-work.
Executed to decorate the shrine of patriarchy Hermogenes.
Icon "Our Lady of Vladimir"
Russia, Moscow, the early XVth century.
Wood, gesso, fabric, egg tempera.
Orarion
Russia, the early ХХth century.
Velvet, taffeta, silk threads, weaving, embroidery, engraving.
Executed to decorate the shrine of patriarchy Hermogenes.
Sakkos of Patriarchy Joachim
Persian brocade - Iran, the second half of the XVIIth century, velvet - Italy, the second half of the XVIIth century.
Velvet, brocade, taffeta, weaving, gilding.
Icon "Our Lady of Kazan"
The early XVIIth century, Moscow.
Wood, gesso, silk, egg tempera, embossing, carving.
Klobuk of Patriarchy Nikon
Fabrics of the XVIIth century - Italy, embroidery of 1652-56 - Russia.
Gold, silver, precious fabrics, weaving, embroidery, niello

November, 19, 2007 - February, 27, 2008

The Cross Chamber of the Patriarch’s Palace

Organized by:: The Moscow Kremlin Museums, Moscow Patriarchate, Moscow Theological Academy, nonprofit organization "Foundation "Russian Cultural Initiative", church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi

01# Mitre of Patriarchy Job The exhibition, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the restoration of patriarchate in Russia, is organized at the instance of His Holiness Patriarchy Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia. Patriarchate in Russia was established in 1589, before the Time of Troubles. It lost its status during the reign of Peter the Great and than was reestablished in 1917 after 200 years of having been neglected. The Orthodox Church, persecuted by the Soviet government, was successfully preserved due to brilliant leadership of the Russian patriarchies Sergius I, Alexius I, Pimen I and continues its development under the direction of Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church His Holiness Patriarchy Alexis II.

The Moscow Kremlin was both a religious and political center of the country for several centuries. The residence of the spiritual leader was always placed near the Tsar's palace as an embodiment of ecclesiastical authorities, equal to the temporal power of the ruling family. Collection of the Cross Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace can be compared with the Tsar's treasury. Precious items were executed by the remarkable painters, silversmiths, embroiderers. Articles of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, artworks of the Moscow Theological Academy and the Sacristy of His Holiness Patriarchy Alexis II, represented at the exhibition, reveal dramatic and gala occasions of the Russian history.

Visitors will see luxurious patriarchal vestments, i.e. sakkoses, omophorions, mantles, orarions, maniples, cuffs, klobuks etc., sometimes executed by request of Tsars. Unique papers, photographs and paraphernalia, belonged to metropolitans and patriarchies, illustrate their way of life, traditions and social activity.

The display includes precious church plate by the Tsars' silversmiths, who masterly acquired many techniques of art processing of metals, as well as icons of the remarkable icon painters, for example “Our Lady of Vladimir” and “Our Lady of Kazan”.