On July 3, 2026, the exhibition "Peter and Paul Cathedral of Kazan: on the 300th anniversary of its consecration" opened in the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. The exhibition is dedicated to the history of one of the main monuments of Kazan's church architecture and its role in the spiritual life of the city.
The opening ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, the scientific community, the clergy, the public and the media.
The exhibition tells about the history of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in 1723-1726 by merchant Ivan Afanasyevich Mikhlyaev in memory of Emperor Peter I's visit to Kazan. The cathedral is considered one of the most striking examples of temple architecture of the first third of the XVIII century, combining ancient Russian traditions and features of the Peter the Great era.
The collections of the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan contain unique objects related to different periods of the cathedral's history. The exposition is based on the gifts of the founder I.A. Mikhlyaev, donations from parishioners of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as items from Kazan churches closed in the 1920s and 1930s.
Among the exhibits are church utensils, icons, elements of episcopal vestments and works of decorative and applied art. A special place is occupied by the Gospel of 1681 in a silver gilt 1726 case with an inscription by I.A. Mikhlyaev.
The opening participants noted that the exhibition not only introduces visitors to the history of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, but also reminds them of the importance of preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of Kazan.