In Torzhok, they are preparing for the opening of the unique exhibition "Look at the sky. Images of the Incomprehensible in the wooden temples of Torzhok and Kizhi Churchyard" is the result of creative cooperation of the All–Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum (VIEM) and the Kizhi Museum-Reserve.
"For the first time, by museum means, using the example of the Old Ascension Church of Torzhok and the Transfiguration Church of the Kizhi churchyard, the wooden temple is presented in its idea as a unity of symbolism of architectural forms and internal iconographic decoration. Both temples are examples of the variety of architecture of wooden churches in Russia of the XVII–XVIII centuries. At the same time, both churches, built at the same time – 1717 and 1714, have a lot in common. First of all, they are united by the dedication – the Transfiguration and the Ascension of the Lord. Both holidays are connected with the phenomenon of the divine nature of Christ, and this idea is reflected in the structure of both temples," the museum said.
The central compositional and semantic element of the exhibition space is "heaven" – iconographic images that decorated the ceilings of both temples, and symbolizing the Kingdom of Heaven. In their center is the icon of the "Trinity of the New Testament" ("Soprestole"), which expresses the full disclosure of the tri–hypostatic and triune essence of God, incomprehensible at the level of the human mind. It was this image of the Incomprehensible that people saw above their heads when entering the temple. Hence the name of the exhibition – "Look at the sky." This is a call to all people to follow the obscure builders and parishioners of the Old Ascension and Transfiguration churches and turn to the Beyond and Unattainable in search of the Kingdom of Heaven within themselves.
"The Kizhi section of the exhibition will feature more than 10 "heaven" icons from Zaonezhsky temples and is dedicated to the lost "heaven icons" of the famous Transfiguration Church on Kizhi Island and their reconstruction. Visitors will find a detective story of their disappearance, searches and a story about a unique project to restore the monument, which is being worked on by specialists of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve. The visual range of the exhibition will be complemented by icons of the XVII – XIX centuries from the collection of VIEM, which will serve to reveal its main idea," the museum said.