Sevastopol, Crimea, July 25, 2025
Photo: pravoslavie.ru
A major new exhibition titled The Godfather will open at the New Chersonesos Church-museum complex in Sevastopol, Crimea, on July 28, coinciding with the Day of the Baptism of Rus’. This ambitious multimedia project presents the story of how an entire civilization’s fate was determined through the personal journey of St. Vladimir the Great.
The exhibition centers on what organizers describe as “a candid confession of Prince Vladimir, revealing even the most difficult pages of his life, because we, his Godchildren, ‘must know everything,’” reports the Crimean Diocese.
The project employs advanced technologies, including generative AI platforms that recreate visual imagery with remarkable detail. All materials undergo rigorous historical review by a team of scholars who ensure the accuracy of 10th-century architecture, costumes, and everyday objects.
The exhibition is based on an original text by His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea, along with a directorial screenplay developed in collaboration with prompt designers, retouchers, museum staff, historians, artists, and technical specialists.
The exhibition frames St. Vladimir not as a distant historical figure, but as a transformative leader who “changed the very DNA of our history” and “led Rus’ to the light of Christ’s faith, opening the path to true spiritual freedom.”
Organizers describe the title The Godfather as deliberately provocative, explaining that it reflects St. Vladimir’s role as the spiritual father of Russian civilization. The exhibition presents his journey “from unbridled idol-worshipper to saint, from sword to cross” as a universal lesson in transformation and redemption.
The multimedia experience allows visitors to hear St. Vladimir’s voice across the centuries, as he addresses his spiritual descendants: “All of you are infinitely dear to me. All of you are my Godchildren. And I am your Godfather.”
Described as “perhaps the world’s only film-journey with unique technical execution,” the exhibition creates an immersive environment where visitors can slow down time and disconnect from daily routine.
This marks the first phase of a larger exhibition that will continue to develop with additional halls and multimedia formats.
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