In this regard, with great confidence can be assumed as the conditions in which cultural values are stored as a whole. If you do not have the appropriate conditions for storage, there is no adequate supervision. All this creates a fertile ground for attacks on cultural values.
Incidentally, the first who raised the issue of mass loss of Russian cultural values, was chairman of the Association of Restorers Russia Yamschikov Sawa. But, unfortunately, for many years no one heard or did not want to hear. Savva Vasilievich was the greatest ally in the search for lost and stolen cultural property. One of the few who genuinely supported the struggle against falsification of the history of art. I can not help wondering how he could remember in any museum or church was one or the other icons, images which were next to her 30 years ago, in what year and who restored it. He remembered everything and always supported our listings search, with great interest each new waiting rooms.
In recent years, the theft of cultural property has become one of the most common ways to get rich quick. Violations committed by any means, it is not only a direct steal, but the substitution, the attempts to legalize the thousands of highly skilled forgeries, often equipped with expert opinions of state institutions. This is primarily due to the enormous interest in Russian art and the fantastic increase in the price, at least in the pre-crisis years. Unfortunately, there is an expert in the area of the existing legislation inadequately worked out. Scammers use this skill. As an example, the directory is enough to mention counterfeit works of art (which was released in five parts), 2007-2009.
- As the public concerned accepted the fake directories?
- Russia's largest collectors and art dealers are fully supported edition of the "Catalogue of fraud" aimed at combating fraud history of art, which is natural. But there were other opinions, negative and very negative tone of this asked a few combinators from art, which had to be given a lot of money for the painting, which turned out not masterpieces of the Russian school, and little-known works of European artists.
- The situation with the pictures of more or less clear. A forge is now the icon?
- Forgery of Icons, no doubt, occur, but the total mass of forgery of cultural property they occupy an insignificant place. The reason is as follows. Between the fake works of art and secular icons there is a significant difference. Icon of fake identification is much easier than painting. If such a forgery catches the eye of a good technician, he always will make the correct verdict. While in the case of all the paintings are much thinner and more difficult.
- How do you evaluate the storage conditions in state institutions and icons of the Orthodox churches?
- Everywhere in different ways, in fact and conditions of each state institution on your own. For example, we have come to the First Channel correspondent Pavel Sheremet for the filming of the icons in the church of the XVII century, which is part of a public museum. Going to church, I was surprised: it turned out that it is open only in summer. There is no heating system in winter there is nearly the same temperature as the outside, if not colder. In the church is the iconostasis of the XVII century and for several centuries with nothing happening. This suggests that the icons have their own lives.
As for the issue of security of the most valuable icons, the temples are protected by the Russian Orthodox Church today is not worse, and in many cases even better than the museum collections.
Here is another example. In 2005, the first time in post-revolutionary period of Russian history, a private collector donated to the Russian Orthodox Church, a unique collection of religious art XV-XIX centuries, which displays all the periods of its development. The ceremony took place 83 icons in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Any museum would be proud of such a meeting. Collector well versed in the iconography, his collection of the best known specialists in Russia, and who does not like him to know where and under what conditions should be kept to the icon. What do you think he gave the church meeting, if there is no proper storage? Today, all icons are supplied to them at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Cathedral and other churches, which may come free of charge by anyone.
I'll tell you about another case, which at the time caused much controversy. I think everyone knows or heard the story of the temporary transfer of the icon "Our Lady Protectress" (Toropetskaya) XII-XIV centuries, the church of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Moscow. Media wrote about this a lot, for example, under these headings: "Early the icon has no place in the cottage," "The road to the elite runs through the temple elite settlement", "icon from the museum was transferred to a private church," "The icon for the rich" and t . etc. Recently I was driving on the highway Novorizhskoe just past of this beautiful temple - it can be seen from the federal highway from a distance. Noticing the corresponding pointer, I could not resist and turned to the church. It was interesting to watch it closely after they wrote and talked about it and stored it icon. In the end, I saw a great two-way entrance to the temple and, most importantly, free access for everyone to pray before the miraculous icon. It was about ten in the morning, in the temple worship was conducted. When I was leaving the temple, the pilgrims came to the bus, which freely entered into the church. In the end, what I saw, does not correspond to the previously heard and read. Alexander Nevski Temple, built by the famous patron, Sergei Shmakov, not a private temple - it belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church, is open to all and is not located in a private settlement, and for the territory of the village, dozens of meters away from the fork in the road. It is a fact. With regard to storage conditions Toropetzkaya icons are now ... I will say this: if you want to know under what conditions should include museum exhibits of special value, come to the church of Alexander Nevsky and see.
- And how many icons were stolen over the past time?
- Yes, a lot. Robbery and churches are included in the museum complex, and the current church, where services are held. And it happens not only in Russia. For example, official statistics in Latvia, according to local media, as follows: in 2008 there were 89 stolen cultural objects, in 2009 - 204 in 2010 - already 318. A considerable part of these missing works of art make up the icon. Unfortunately, few of them manage to recover most of disappearing forever.
- How popular Orthodox icons from Western buyers? What is most valued?
- This question can be answered very simply. Western, and not only buyers interested in all the icons that cost money. And the more there are, the more interested. This is usually a good icon, professional writing, representing high artistic value.
- What are the most valuable icons were returned over the past few years?
- Efforts Rosokhrankultura with the direct involvement of philanthropists, collectors, experts have been found and returned to the rightful owners of a lot of icons. If we talk about the most valuable of them, for the last time this icon bought in Europe, a bona fide purchaser for the sum more than two million dollars. This, for example, a unique icon "Resurrection" XVIII century. It was written by one of the greatest artists of the Armory painter Abbot Cornelius (Ulanov). Shrine was abducted in 2004 from the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nizhny Novgorod and smuggling were taken to Europe. Then, the icon became a well-known collector, who later found it in the folder and handed it to the Rosokhrankultura. In 2008 I took part in the gala event, where Prime Minister Vladimir Putin handed over this icon Novgorod diocese.
The icon of "St. Nicholas Zaraisky with His Life" in 1553, which was stolen from a branch of the Yaroslavl State Museum in 1995, returned in 2010. Icon stolen from the National Museum in Lviv in 1984, "Protection of the Virgin" in 1560, returned last year. Also in 2011 was returned to the icon of "St. George in the Life" XVII century, stolen from veskovskoy Church of St. George in 2003. This is one of the few cases where the sanctuary of the church handed over to the museum, and not vice versa. She enrolled in temporary storage in Pereslavl Museum, as the alarm is set in church. Of course, the icon returns to its rightful place.
- Does it make sense to produce a directory of stolen icons?
- I do not think. The fact that in our catalogs, "Attention, wanted!" There are sections on the stolen icons. To publish a directory of the same icons, in my opinion, it is impractical for the reason that, despite the rather frequent cases of theft, the database itself stolen icons small. Often we do not even have pictures of stolen icons. And this, incidentally, is a big problem in terms of the return of icons, especially from abroad. Let us imagine that a father saw an icon of the auction, which he stole from the temple. What does he do? If he does not have even basic inventory of the stolen works and photographs of the icon, the procedure returns may be delayed for many years. I emphasize all found and returned the icon was found by experts only because of their miracle, survived the detailed descriptions and photographic images. This should not be forgotten.
Interviewed by Eugene Murzin
Requires a constructive dialogue of the Church and the museum community
Comment Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, a member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, art-Committee of the Moscow diocese, rector of the Moscow church martyr Clement, Pope of Rome
In the early twentieth century in Russia was the need for a comfortable churches church vestries to hold cultural and historical values. Acted Society for the Conservation of Antiquities of the Church, which included many members of the Slavophile movement, the clergy, men of culture and art. However, the XX century is over, and things are out there. Unfortunately, objects of cultural heritage are often held in churches in the form of abuse that causes concern not only for the museum community, but also more or less literate parishioners understand what kind of spiritual, historical and material value is a church of ancient times.
Meanwhile, well-organized vestry is the ratio of the abbot of the temple to the heritage, which he temporarily manages. I'll tell you more if you order in the sacristy, the order is in the spiritual life of the parish. These things are inextricably linked. Under the Charter of the Church, when the bishop enters the altar, supposed to deploy in front of him corporal. This tradition stems from the fact that the bishop is not just applied to the expanded corporal - he checks clear whether the corporal, in which he was able, as contained. And if the corporal is a pitiable spectacle, rector of the church is prohibited from serving. I think that this practice could be applied with respect to the other temple shrines. If you are the last to himself strictly to reason with the abbot, and if he does not heed, replace it with a more reverent priest. And there should be ashamed of or be unnecessary softness. Otherwise we will lose that much of the cultural heritage of our country, which is run by the Church.
In parallel to solve another problem - at least, and perhaps more important - we are talking about the need to raise the level of knowledge of the clergy in the field of museum work. Starting from the seminary bench, you need to instill an understanding of the future pastors of the elementary basics of care, storage and conservation of cultural and spiritual heritage, which is run by the Church. After all, what is in the temple - it is not personal property of the abbot, and the wealth of our society, the wealth of Russia. And we should treat this as a national wealth, to the visible evidence of a high spiritual life of our ancestors. And until this issue has not received systemic solutions, to talk about a total transfer of the Church of ancient icons and precious utensils that are part of cultural heritage - to condemn the destruction of church valuables, but the Church herself - on the subsequent vilification of the society.
I want to emphasize that now the Church, and the museum community is the desire for dialogue, the parties seek common ground, develop joint projects, acting together. Of course, not everything goes smoothly. On both sides there are some destructive elements who are against the very possibility of dialogue and thereby inhibit the process. But there are difficulties in any good business. I am confident that the overall positive movement towards greater integration of the Church and the museum community will prevail for the greater glory of God and the great glory of Russia.
To smooth the roughness of the possible, from time to time arise between the Church and the museum community, could be offered at the temples to museums to create branches. To lead such institutions could abbots and clergy of the parish churches or members of the community who have appropriate education and understanding of their responsibilities. It is necessary that in the absence of museum practice these people were trained in a particular museum and had a direct view of the storage characteristics of the cultural and material values.
These branches can be organized at the cathedrals of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. In this part of the funds that are allocated for the maintenance of the state museums can be directed to the contents of the sacristy of the church, the organization where the necessary storage conditions taking into account the frequent visits of the vestries people interested in church history. It should be noted that such museums exist in many countries. For example, in Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Cyprus such a museum exists at many monasteries. Ancient objects and vestments are derived from daily use and stored in a beautiful form in the windows with signs, which describes the history of each subject, and in the days of special religious festivities with reverence these relics can serve again for its intended purpose, giving an even greater spiritual significance of the church celebration, reminding the faithful of the intimate connection times and piety of their ancestors.
Such can be organized in our country. This clearly shows that Russia is capable of internal self-organization in the most important issues of cultural and historical heritage.
Responsible for the temple property must be vigilant
Comment Police Major Alexei Kistochkina, Acting Head of Department 12
4 CFP CID Research Affairs of Russia in Moscow
Cases of theft of icons from the churches today has become much smaller. Mainly from churches stolen money, opening the alms bowls, gold and silver, which are sold in the church benches, and other utensils, which can be easily sold. Most often occur in the theft of icons of the day after the service when the church starts cleaning, priests complete their case to the altar, someone is going to dinner and the attention of employees scattered. Criminals go to church and just take away the icons, lying on the lectern, but there are cases of burglary in the nighttime.
Practice shows that people who commit theft - a stray marginal, often with a criminal record behind him, and absolutely no expertise in the subjects of religious art. They simply take what is in plain sight. Targeted, qualified theft in recent times almost none. The reason is that today in many churches and icons remake, not representing commercial interests. However, this does not mean that those responsible for the temple property, can relax.
A serious problem is the lack of many temples of proper organization. Somewhere not even have alarms, and cameras, if any, covering the outer perimeter of the building, with entrances and exits almost fall into the field of view. Many churches and chapels are away from busy places, parks, public gardens, where at night there is no soul.
A number of priors and does not show much zeal in the conservation of church property, and operates on the principle God has given - God took. Sometimes not even the priests claim that there was a theft in the temple, and information about it comes to us from other sources. Often we do not even count the stolen object.
Last year we sent out in the districts of Moscow and Dean letter recommended to make photographic images of church property, located in the temples. The reaction was very weak. Responded to our letter about 15%of the total number of churches in Moscow. But the presence of conventional photography and basic inventory of the subject in case of theft can help law enforcement solve the crime.
Evgeny Murzin
http://e-vestnik.ru/interviews/v_roz...ulturnye_4308/
03.02.2012, 15:31
In search of cultural values
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