Photo exhibitions of the Archbishop of Pesochensky and Yukhnovsky Maximilian "Pokrovsky - family estate of Bryanchaninova"

In 2017, it was 150 years since the blessed death of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov.

The Vologda land, in terms of the many monasteries that were in it and the holy saints of God that worked in them, occupies a special place in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. This land has long been called the Northern Thebaid. In the dense Vologda forests and impenetrable swamps, great ascetics sought solitude and silence, and therefore, the whole Vologda land was dotted with monasteries and solitary monastic cells.

In this wonderful region near the city of Vologda, in the picturesque village of Pokrovskoye, the great Russian ascetic writer, Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, was born and raised. A strict zealot of the ascetic tradition, an outstanding scientist, ascetic, archpastor, peacemaker, a man of the highest spirituality and culture, he is known to the whole civilized world as a creator of immortal spiritual works, a talented administrator, a zealous guardian of Orthodox traditions and culture, as one of the most respected man paths to Eternal Life.

The Bryanchaninov clan, one of the oldest noble families of Russia, originates from the nobleman - the brave squire of the holy noble Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy - Mikhail Andreevich Brenko.

In 1617, for the courage shown during the defense of Smolensk and the expulsion of the Poles, the village of Bryanchaninov was granted the village of Pokrovskoye.

The father of St. Ignatius, Alexander Semenovich Brianchaninov, was brought up in the Imperial Page Corps, was a cell-page of Emperor Paul I. Arriving in Vologda, he brought from St. Petersburg a love of elegant beauty and strict order and, rebuilding the estate (1809-1811), he created in Pokrovsky, little Versailles with a castle-house, a royal garden and an elegant church. G.K.Lukomsky, a researcher of Russian architecture, who was here at the beginning of the 20th century, was struck by man-made beauty. He wrote: “In the far northeast - the echo of the Palladian villa, but revised, with a peculiar understanding of the beauty of the details. The lovely Pokrovskoye is one of the best estates in Russia. ” In addition to the temple and the manor house, the estate included a shady linden park with a fountain, a landscape park with cool grottoes made of wild stone, a system of picturesque ponds and a pensive Bryanchaninov family cemetery near the temple. Here, at the altar of the temple, lies the remains of A.S. Bryanchaninov and the last owner of the estate V.N. Bryanchaninov.

From 1924 to 2000, a sanatorium was located in the estate. During this period, the appearance of the estate underwent changes, but in recent years, with the support of the Vologda Oblast Governor V.E. Pozgalev, the Bryanchaninov family estate regained its original appearance, the building of the manor house was restored, and the Pokrovsky church in the estate again became operational. From Australia to Pokrovskoye regularly come the descendants of the Brianchaninovs involved in the restoration of the estate.

The exhibition of photographs by the archbishop Pesochensky and Yukhnovsky Maximilian: “Pokrovskoye is the family estate of the Bryanchaninov”, which gives you the opportunity to get acquainted with one of the corners of Northern Thebaida, admire the amazing landscapes of the Vologda nature and the beauty of the architectural forms of the Pokrovskoye estate.

We hope that the photographs of Vladyka Maximilian, who is keenly sensitive and talented in conveying the state of nature, will not leave anyone indifferent, because, according to St. Ignatius, “the book of nature, given for reading to the pristine Adam, contains the words of the Spirit like Divine Scripture.”

The exhibition runs until August 20, at the address: st. Lenin, 103.

Museum opening hours: daily, except Mondays, from 10-00 to 18-00, on Saturday - from 11-00 to 19-00.

Tel for reference: 56-28-30