Go to 3D panorama of the exhibition >>
The presentation was made on October, 28th, 2013 >>
In the period of October 21st – November 14th Russian State Art Library (RSAL) organized the exhibition of the photos made by Subdeacon Sergius (Lisevitsky) - “Prayer in the Darkness”.
By way of demonstrating its rich funds, our library presented for the first time the collection of photographs made by the library’s long-term reader – Sergey Nikolaevich Lisevitsky. The subject of the exposition was the chronicles of the Russian Orthodox Church and the views of Moscow in the period of 1940s - 1970s.
Sergey Nikolaevich Lisevitsky (1915–1994) served as Subdeacon to the famous Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov). After the death of His Grace he served for the Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church - Sergius, Alexis I and Pimen. At the same time he worked at the Foundation for the support of writers, gave lectures on behalf of “Znanie” Association, travelled a lot and always took his camera with him.
Being a part of the closed clerical world he witnessed and captured it in his numerous photos that had formed a comprehensive collection. These photos showed church worships and sacraments, meetings with representatives of foreign and local churches, as well as the portraits of the distinguished figures of the Russian Orthodox Church, such as Archbishop Pitirim (Nechaev).
Subdeacon Sergius combined the spiritual service with his love of the native city. He could capture the spirit of Moscow just as it was in the middle of the 20th century with its undamaged churches, quiet streets, old mansions and cozy courtyards. He attempted to keep photographical record of the city that undergone constant changes.
Together with the photos there were also presented authentic possessions from the Museum collections of the Church of the Saint Metrophanes of Voronezh, such as epitrachelion and liturgical cuffs that belonged to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis I, New Testament rewritten manually and other relics. The Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War also took part in arranging of the exposition.
Numerous books, brochures and illustrative materials from the collections of our library helped better understand the attitude of the government to the church and the Christians during the hard times of our country’s history.
The exposition took place in the Blue Hall of RSAL from October, 21st till November, 14th.
Opening hours: 12.00 - 18.00, Thursdays - until 20.00. Sundays – closed.
Address: B. Dmitrovka, 8/1, (Teatralnaya, Okhotny Ryad, Kuznetsky Most, Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro stations).
Tel. +7 495 692 04 67, +7 495 692 09 84, exbt@liart.ru, www.liart.ru
