24 Aug 2018 in the city of Pskov held the meeting dedicated to the historical and cultural development of the Pskov region.
A working visit to Pskov arrived the Plenipotentiary of the President of Russia Alexander Beglov and the Minister of education of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilyeva. The meetings were also attended by the Chairman of the Patriarchal Council for culture, Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon, acting Governor of Pskov region Mikhail Vedernikov, representatives of the regional and city authorities, heads of diocesan agencies, according to the Pskov Diocesan Management.
During the August pedagogical Council held in the walls of the engineering of linguistic school – the first school opened in Pskov region over the past 25 years, the Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon said that in the city of Pskov in 2019 will open the Historical Park.
“Now these parks opened across Russia” – recalled the Archbishop of Pskov. – “This interactive, exciting journey through history. These parks are popular and in demand in Russian cities”.
We hear a lot about patriotism, but true patriotism is “not preachy, not forced lessons”. “It’s awareness of itself in the historical flow of their own history. This is the love of his Homeland and its people,” he said.
Also, noting the importance of learning the Basics of Orthodox culture, Metropolitan Tikhon said: “This is a subject that caused a lot of controversy. And for me it is not so straightforward. But he’s the oldest in Russia and in our education. Grammar and the Law of God.” According to the Bishop of the Metropolitan, it is necessary to study this subject with teachers in order to understand what needs to convey to the students not to make the subject “obsessive”.
In conclusion, the head of the Pskov Archdiocese awarded hierarchal certificates to the winners of the all-Russian complex in the field of pedagogy “For the moral feat of the teacher”. “You do what does no other institution in our society – shaping generation, the historical continuity of traditions, all the best that has been accumulated over more than two thousand years of history,” said Bishop
On the same day, Alexander Beglov and Olga Vasilyeva, accompanied by acting Governor of the Pskov region Mikhail Vedernikov and Metropolitan Tikhon headed to the Mirozhsky monastery. In the monastery the guests visited Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, where he saw the Byzantine frescoes of the middle of the XII century.
During the visit of the monastery the Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon noted that the Pskov diocese plans to revive the iconography and restoration school in Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy Mirozhsky monastery.
Then in the building of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox school of the city of Pskov held a meeting on issues of preservation of cultural heritage of the Pskov region and the development of the choral movement.
“It was impossible to break away from the frescoes of the Mirozhsky monastery. Nowhere in our country is nothing like it. The Pskov region can be proud of and have something to keep,” – said during the meeting the Plenipotentiary of the RF President in the northwestern Federal district Alexander Beglov. The preservation and contemporary use of cultural heritage – a matter of special social significance. “We need to be able to combine and restoration and their sustainable use,” he said.
The Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation recalled that 3% of all monuments of all-Russian registry are located in the Pskov region. All of these objects is a priceless historical heritage. “Ancient temples and monasteries – visiting card of the Pskov region. At the same time is a great resource for socio-economic development”, – said Aleksandr Beglov.
In his opinion, in Russia there are two cities, which have preserved the true ancient culture of the era: Pskov and Novgorod. “Our task is to preserve what we have. The rich heritage and we need to protect it,” added the envoy.
At the same time, Alexander Beglov noted that the funding from the Federation need to be very prudent, especially in the current situation. He said that at the same time it is necessary to actively attract extra-budgetary funds, to involve the public, volunteers. “We need a full inventory and preservation of cultural heritage. I am sure that the Pskov region will cope with this task, and we are in the framework of the working group will contribute to it”, – concluded Alexander Beglov.
In the course of the meeting the Minister of education of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilieva offered to revive in the Pskov region the tradition of song festivals, and will start their revival with the school choirs. “You have the opportunity to once again become a singing ground. The Ministry is ready to provide assistance”, – assured the Minister.
She also said that in 1911 the land of Pskov became the center of the song festivals in Russia – then in the Pskov region held the first festival of choral music – the all-Russian choral festival. The event brought 1437 singers. From 1911 to 1917, this festival has been held annually. However, as the Minister said, “the revolution, this tradition was destroyed”.
“We pay great attention to extra-curricular choral singing is good for the moral health. Choir is the unity, reducing social tensions, team building is a collective activity. Developing the personal culture of each teenager, the skills of belonging to a particular case. Children’s choral singing should attract everyone who is not”. “Good Patriotic military songs evoke a sense of ownership and have a great healing effect,” concluded Olga Vasilyeva.
Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon thanked Olga Vasilyeva for the offer. “In Pskov there is every possibility that this tradition be revived. From the choral singing tremendous power, and Patriotic capacities. We’ll help all I can, all will use”, – assured the Archbishop of Pskov.
Also the importance of preserving cultural properties noted by the acting Governor of Pskov region Mikhail Vedernikov: “we Have no deposits of hydrocarbons and precious metals, but there are more than 4 thousand cultural heritage objects. This is a serious capacity and it should start working. Many monuments in need of restoration and repair, but the problem is in the fact that we have no unified strategy as to what to do with them”. According to him, “architectural heritage and choral singing are the main cultural components that are of the greatest interest to tourists”.
Also an important topic discussed at the meeting was the preservation of the Mirozhsky and Snetogorsky monasteries.
“Problem (the collapse of the Snetogorsky monastery) is urgent. The situation started. Experts who examined the object said to collapse at any moment and not only the tower but also the case where you live sister. 15 years talks 15 years is poured from a sieve, and nothing had yet been done. Greater shame than to lose this monument, will not be simple. All hope for Mikhail now,” said Metropolitan Tikhon.
The reality of the threat was confirmed by the Deputy Governor of the Pskov region, Alexander Kuznetsov. “Avoiding the solution of the problem threatens the existence of the monument itself. The rock is cracked, at any time may be destruction,” he said. Alexander Kuznetsov said that the fence hangs over the river and at any moment might collapse. In this earlier work on the protection already took place, but was suspended. He noted that the who has prepared a work plan, prepare a road map. According to the plan, you need to start to determine the owner of the unfinished object structures.
In turn, the acting Governor of the region Mikhail Vedernikov said that the decision to consolidate the unfinished construction Bank Snetogorsky monastery has been taken. “The area of this design takes the property and the finalization of the construction of this object will be solved by the administration of the Pskov region with the support of Deputy Prime Minister for agriculture Alexey Gordeev”.
Regarding the situation in the Spaso-Mirozhsky monastery, Alexander Kuznetsov noted that “it is necessary to develop comprehensive solutions to protect the cultural object of Federal significance. You must design and construction of waterproof wall, but it could change the historical landscape. Also the necessary protective structures inside the monastery, which would have lowered the groundwater level around the perimeter of the monastery need a drainage system.”
According to him, in the last two years the coastline Mirozhsky monastery is reduced, and coastal slope being destroyed during the floods. He also said that the basic problem of the monastery of flooding its waters the great river and the absence of a drainage system.
“There is a clear understanding at the government level, all government departments will be involved in resolving this issue”, – assured Alexander Kuznetsov.
At the end of the meeting, Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov Tikhon expressed his gratitude to Alexander Beglov and all the contributors for helping to save the monasteries. “Today was an important interview for the conservation of ancient monuments. Acting Governor of Pskov region Mikhail Vedernikov went to the highest level to resolve the issue at the Snetogorsky and the Mirozhsky monasteries”, – said the Metropolitan.
The Lord said that he hoped that in the near future these issues will “move forward” and that the spring-summer 2019 these problems will be solved completely.
In turn, the Minister of education of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilyeva shared her impressions of the visit to Pskov. “I’ve been here a very long time, and the changes that I saw, amazing. The city was transformed,” – said Olga Vasilyeva.