On July 28, 2024, in the Fifth Week after Pentecost, on the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles and Great Prince Vladimir, celebrations were held at the St. Vladimir’s Chersonese Monastery (Sevastopol) to mark the patronal feast of the monastery and the opening of the museum-temple complex “New Chersonese.”
Such a significant event in this place is no coincidence. Chersonese Taurida (Byzantine Cherson—or Korsun in Russian chronicles) is directly related to the events of 988. It was in this city, according to the Tale of Bygone Years, that Grand Prince Vladimir was baptized and married the Byzantine princess Anna, the Porphyrogenite sister of Emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII. After this even, Christianity determined the developmental vector of all Rus’, which adopted the traditional spiritual values of Byzantium. It was Chersonese that became the cradle of Orthodoxy for the Russian state.
On July 28, marking the 1036th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, by the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the festive service in Chersonese was led by His Eminence Nikander, Metropolitan of Naro-Fominsk, a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, assisted by: Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea; Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira, vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’; Metropolitan Mercury of Rostov and Novocherkassk; Metropolitan Feodor of Volgograd and Kamyshin; Metropolitan Vasily of Yekaterinodar and Kuban; Metropolitan Matthew of Pskov and Porkhov; Archbishop Theophylact of Pyatigorsk and Cherkessk; Metropolitan Platon; Bishop Alexius of Dzhankoy and Rozdolne; Bishop Nestor of Yalta, vicar of the Simferopol Diocese; Bishop Agathon of Koktebel, vicar of the Feodosia Diocese; Abbot John (Ludishchev), abbot of the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow; Acting Abbot of St. Vladimir’s Chersonese Monastery (Sevastopol), Hieromonk Hilarion (Karandeev); clergy of the Simferopol and Crimean Diocese and other visiting clergy.
Before the Divine Liturgy, twelve hierarchs and more than 100 clergy conducted a solemn procession through the “New Chersonese” museum-temple complex, from the Museum of Christianity to the St. Vladimir’s Cathedral of the men’s monastery in Chersonese Taurida.
The clergy performed the rite of consecration of the main objects of the museum-temple complex: Museums of Christianity, Antiquity and Byzantium, Crimea and Novorossiya, the temple-park, the amphitheater “Gryphon Arena” (named after the play “Gryphon,”1 which has become a hallmark of Chersonese), and the reconstructed “Byzantine Quarter” from the time of Prince Vladimir.
The procession was accompanied by the carrying of banners, liturgical vessels, antimensions,2 church utensils, locally venerated icons, and reliquaries with particles of the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called, the Holy Martyrs of Chersonese, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princes Vladimir and Olga, and St. Luke of Crimea.
During the procession, two white horses harnessed to a Roman chariot carried a baptismal font with holy water, which was scooped and distributed by Archpriest Sergei Kalyuta, dean of the Sevastopol church district, to the clergy for sprinkling the structures of “New Chersonese.”
Next, a minor consecration of St. Vladimir’s Cathedral took place, as well as the consecration of the monument to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (sculptor: Vitaly Shanov), installed near St. Vladimir’s Cathedral. This was followed by an hierarchical Divine Liturgy. During the fervent litany, special petitions were offered and a prayer for Holy Rus’ was read.
Among those praying at the service were: the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov, the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov, the Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Head of the Republic of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, Vice President of Transneft PJSC Vladimir Kalanda, representatives of federal and regional authorities, military personnel, philanthropists, invited guests, and all those directly involved in the construction and commissioning of the “New Chersonese” museum-temple complex.
The liturgical chants were performed by a large combined choir of the Simferopol and Crimean Dioceses under the direction of Deacon Alexander Amerkhanov, which included: the choir of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery (artistic director Andrey Poltorukhin), the male hierarchical and youth choir of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Simferopol (director Protodeacon Anthony Marushchak), the mixed choir of St. Vladimir’s Monastery in Chersonese (director Deacon Alexander Amerkhanov), the mixed choir of the seminary church of the Three Hierarchs in Simferopol (director Ksenia Severin), and the mixed choir of the Church of All Saints in Simferopol (director Tatyana Kashlyuk).
Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea addressed the congregation with a sermon during the communion verse. In his speech, the Metropolitan expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood at the beginning of the “New Chersonese” project and brought it into being, building such a significant object for the whole country in record time.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the creation of the ‘New Chersonese’ museum-temple complex and this church. First and foremost, those who conceived it – Vladimir Putin, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, who was tirelessly beside us all these years, and all who participated,” said the head of the Crimean Metropolia, Met. Tikhon.
In the assembly hall of the Sevastopol Children’s School of Arts “Korsun,” a solemn ceremony was held to mark the opening of the “New Chersonese” museum-temple complex. Metropolitan Nikandr read the Greeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.
“Chersonese Taurida, near which this beautiful complex was built, has an ancient history spanning over a thousand years. Already in the first century, the light of Christ penetrated here. It was to this land that St. Clement of Rome, one of the Seventy Apostles, was exiled. Here he consoled and instructed other convicts, and here he met his martyrdom.
Almost eight centuries later, the holy relics of this saint were found by Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius on their way to Khazaria, where they went as part of a diplomatic mission. In order to preach the Gospel among the Slavs, the two brothers from Thessalonica translated the Holy Scriptures and liturgical texts into the local languages.
In the tenth century, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was baptized in Chersonese. Thanks to his decision, we not only received the treasure of true faith and joined the family of Christian peoples, but also formed a unified state. This museum-temple complex reminds us today of the great power of spiritual and cultural unity,” Patriarch Kirill stated in his official message.
Vladimir Ustinov read the official message from President Vladimir Putin:
“It is symbolic that today in Sevastopol the historical and archaeological park ‘Chersonese Taurida’ is opening. In a short time, a modern, comfortable space has been created here, the St. Vladimir’s Cathedral has been restored, new exhibition areas and museum complexes have been built, and convenient rest areas have been organized.
“It is important that this plan was realized largely thanks to the joint efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Government of Sevastopol and other regions, scientists and architects, builders and volunteers, with active support from business circles and public organizations.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in this unique project. I am confident that ‘Chersonese Taurida’ will become a major educational, research, and tourist center. It will enable the implementation of promising creative initiatives and programs that promote the upbringing of youth based on the values of patriotism, love for their native country, its history, and culture.”
Greetings were also given by the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov and the Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev. The head of the region presented Metropolitan Tikhon with the “For Services to Sevastopol” distinction.
In turn, Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea expressed heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the President of the Russian Federation, the authorities of Sevastopol, the military builders, philanthropists, and all who provided concrete help in the successful implementation of the project.
Indeed, “New Chersonese” is unprecedented in every respect: in its spiritual, ideological, and cultural focus, its historical and educational mission, the scale of its construction, the quality of work, and even the completion time! Construction of “New Chersonese” began in 2022 and was completed in just over a year and a half. The complex of buildings and structures, covering a total area of 140,000 square meters, is located on twenty-four hectares of landscaped territory, transformed into a unique garden and park ensemble.
All participants of the event were able to personally verify the authenticity of these facts by personally visiting the iconic objects of the “New Chersonese” museum-temple complex during group tours.
In conclusion, a meal was offered for all the guests of the celebration, as well as a cultural and concert program featuring the Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir.
___________________________________
1 The play, “Gryphon”, was written by Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov).—OC.
2 Antimensions are a special cloth with particles of the relics of Christian martyrs sewn into them. They are a necessary component in the service of Divine Liturgy.—OC.
