On 20 December 2024 the exhibition "Temple of Minerva. 270th Anniversary of the Moscow University" in the State Anteroom of the Armoury Chamber, which traces the period from the foundation of the Moscow State University by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna in 1755 to the end of the reign of Alexander I, who granted it the first statute.

The leading Russian museums, archives and libraries, such as the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the Russian Museum, the Vernadsky State Geological Museum, the Zoological Museum of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the State Historical Library of Russia and others lent their artefacts.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Director General of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Elena Gagarina and Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy.

"We're here at the opening of the project, which precedes a series of major celebrations dedicated to the 270th anniversary of the Moscow University, which was of great importance for higher education, for spreading humanitarian and not only humanitarian knowledge in society, for periodicals, for the  printing of  scientific works. It changed our society, transforming it from a half-educated and essentially medieval one into an enlightened one, aware of its role in the development of the state," Elena Gagarina said.

"We are very happy to open the exhibition in the Armoury Chamber. The whole history of our country is connected with the Kremlin: the Kremlin walls, the Spasskaya Tower - it has always been very dear to Russia. It was probably not for nothing that Elizabeth decided to open the first university building near the Kremlin walls. 270 years ago, in the summer of the 25th year, students began their studies. That is why Moscow University has always been a symbol of Russia, growing with it, helping it. The establishment of art, culture and science was inevitably connected with its development. It was necessary to follow the path laid down by Lomonosov and Shuvalov. The exhibition highlights the main events that show what the university has experienced, achieved, created and survived. This is our whole life and history," Victor Sadovnichy explained.

In the exposition visitors can see the original architectural drawing of the university building by Matvey Kazakov and the autograph of Catherine the Great, the Confirming Charter of the Moscow Imperial University granted by Alexander I in 1804, as well as memorabilia, unique documents, sculptural and pictorial portraits of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

20 December 2024 — 26 March 2025

State Anteroom of the Armoury Chamber