The State Museum of the History of Religion in St. Petersburg has opened the exhibition "Russian Masters: Artistic Traditions and Ideals," featuring, among other items, a sakkos from the coronation of Nicholas II, on public display for the first time. The museum highlighted that this item is being exhibited for the first time.

A sakkos is a top liturgical garment worn by bishops. It is a long, loose-fitting garment reaching the feet, typically not sewn on the sides, made of rich fabric with short, wide sleeves. The sakkos on display was created for the Orthodox clergy participating in the coronation of Nicholas II. The pattern of the brocade was approved by the Church in 1895, and the garments were subsequently made. The attire is adorned with traditional Russian eagles, symbols of power.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view around 100 items used in the liturgical practices of the Orthodox Church, including vestments, censers, lamps, crosses, and icons in luxurious frames. These include genuine silverwork monuments from 19th-20th century Russia, crafted by major factories and workshops. A separate section of the exhibition will be dedicated to modern production, featuring liturgical utensils from the Sofrino factory, the main supplier of the Russian Orthodox Church, and examples of hand-sewn items from the "Pokrov" workshop of the Konstantin-Yelena Convent in St. Petersburg.

The exhibition "Russian Masters: Artistic Traditions and Ideals" will run from July 9, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

Photo: L. Tuxen. "The Coronation of Nicholas II in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin on May 14, 1896," 1898. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg