On January 16, 2026, the premiere of the historical drama "The Tsar and God" took place at the site of the Moscow State Academic Theater of Russian Song.
The performance is dedicated to the 545th anniversary of the Great Stand on the Ugra River and the 585th anniversary of the birth of Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow. The performance was created by the Moscow Theater Project Creative Association, the general information partner is the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations and the Media.
The plot of the play "The King and the God" is based on the events of the Great Stand on the Ugra River, which took place during 1480. For the first time, their participants appeared on the Russian dramatic stage — Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow, his wife Sophia Paleologue, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia Gerontius and other representatives of Moscow society in the second half of the XV century. The play was directed by Daniil Korobeynikov, written by Ilya Kuzmenkov, directed by Ivan Glazunov, composed by Alexei Starodubtsev, and starring actor Alexei Himmelreich. "The King and God" is a synthesis of dramatic action, live author's music and plastic episodes.
"Our performance tells not only and perhaps not even so much about history. It's about a choice based on faith," said Ilya Kuzmenkov, the author of the play, Deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Church—Society Relations and the Media, editor-in-chief of Vera Radio. — After all, Ivan III at that time did not yet have sufficient resources to resist a Large Horde. The Grand Duke hesitated, and many of his associates urged him to buy off the khan. However, Ivan III's faith and trust in God's help led him first to decide to confront the Horde army, and then to the successful conclusion of the military campaign. Our play "The Tsar and God" is about this choice: about the external struggle of the Moscow Principality and the internal struggle in the soul of its ruler."
 "The events of the Great Stand are not just one of the episodes of Russian history. It was as a result of our state's standing that it gained sovereignty and true independence, which remains to this day," said Vladimir Legoyda, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church—Society Relations and the Media. — In addition, the era of Ivan III was marked by other outstanding events, including the unification of the lands around Moscow, the construction of the Moscow Kremlin, the development of cultural and political ties with leading world powers, the creation of a unified Judicial System, the overcoming of heresies, the strengthening of Orthodoxy as the basis for the development of the state and society, and other significant deeds of the Grand Duke. The Church supports the appeal of cultural figures to such historical topics and provides them with all possible support."
The project is implemented by the Present Foundation with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives and is part of a series of educational events dedicated to the 545th anniversary of the Great Stand on the Ugra. More detailed information is published on the project's website.