The grand opening of the exhibition "Salt of the Yaroslavichi Land" took place at the Museum of St. Luke at the Feodorovsky Convent.
Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk and Romanovo-Borisoglebsky and Bishop Theoktist of Pereslavl and Uglich took part in the ceremony.
Addressing the audience, Bishop Theoktistos said:
— I would like to express my gratitude to the creators of the museum and the exhibition, as well as to all those who are engaged in restoring the memory of people who died during the era of persecution. Your work is evidence that you have a living heart and you have not lost the ability to hear God and respond to His call.
As the ruling bishop, it is very comforting for me to see how this work captures new people. This is a real miracle of God. However, I would like to warn you: the study of the memory of the new martyrs and their veneration should not lead to calmness, as if the Church had already survived and stood up. No, the Church will always be tempted, just like believers.
It is a common mistake to think that if a person has survived a serious ordeal, then everything is over and there will be no more problems. Temptations will accompany us all our lives. The same goes for the Church. Therefore, the study of the memory of the new martyrs should not only be scientific, but also contribute to internal changes. It should strengthen our faith in Christ and make us steadfast.
The exhibition "The Salt of the Land of Yaroslavichi" is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the glorification of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church in 2000. The exhibition tells about the saints of the 20th century associated with the Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Pereslavl and Uglich dioceses.
The exhibition presents materials about Priest Konstantin Sniatinovsky, priest Nikolai Dunaev and priest Yevgeny Yelkhovsky, who were shot during the persecution, as well as about the village teacher Iraida Tikhova, who helped the exiled bishops.
A separate section is dedicated to Archbishop Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) and Bishop Athanasius (Sakharov), who wrote scientific and theological works in exile and prison.