On June 5, 2026, Metropolitan Matthew of Pskov and Porkhovsky consecrated the memorial plaques of the Pskov Archbishops Evgeny (Bolkhovitinov) and Arseny (Stadnitsky), as well as the poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin in the Nativity of the Virgin at the Snetogorsky Monastery.
During the divine service, the abbess of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Snetogorsky monastery, Abbess Rafaila (Pozigunova), prayed with the sisters of the monastery, representatives of the museum and scientific communities of the region, parishioners of the monastery and pilgrims.
Before the beginning of the rite of consecration, Metropolitan Matthew celebrated a requiem mass for the ever-memorable Archbishop Eugene, Archbishop Arseny and servant of God Alexander.
Then Bishop Matthew addressed all those gathered with a welcoming speech, in which he stressed that "it is truly significant that we are imprinting the names of saints and poets on these sacred stones, because they are all united by a fervent love for their native history, literature and tireless concern for the enlightenment of the people.
Today, the restored historical justice shows us the inseparable connection of times: Metropolitan Evgeny (Bolkhovitinov), a true ascetic of science and chronicler of the Pskov land, created his immortal "History of the Principality of Pskov", descriptions of holy monasteries and a monumental dictionary of Russian writers, laying the foundation for the study of Russian literature.; Metropolitan Arseny (Stadnitsky), a zealous pastor and theologian, worked within these same walls to eradicate illiteracy, multiplied church schools, opened a museum and a historical and archaeological committee, fostering in the flock a love of reverent singing and reverence for the holy; and finally, the sun of Russian poetry, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, who visited this monastery and communicated with His Grace Evgeny (Kazantsev), whose very presence here sanctifies these walls, for he is our national pride and the creator of the modern Russian language.
The saintly works of Vladyka Eugene and Arseny and the poetic genius of Pushkin edify us in the most important things: as Alexander Sergeyevich himself noted, "disrespect for our ancestors is the first sign of savagery and immorality," and the boards now installed are visible evidence that we are not forgetful descendants.
May these commemorative plaques remind everyone who enters here that the Snetogorskaya monastery was and remains a place of living history, where the bishop's staff and the lyre, prayer and science, faith and the word invisibly converged."
Then the dedication of the commemorative plaques took place.
Photo by Deacon Lev Savinov