On May 30 — June 12, 2025, the cultural and educational center "Book Chamber in Chernigov" in Moscow will host the exhibition "Journey to Assyria. The legacy of Christian Mesopotamia". The exhibition is organized by the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Church—wide Postgraduate and Doctoral School named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, and the Moscow Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mart Maryam), the main temple of the Assyrian Church of the East in Russia.
The exhibition, which is a new project of the DECR-OCAD joint training course "Ancient Oriental Churches", is being held as part of the activities of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.
During the period of the exhibition "Journey to Assyria. The Heritage of Christian Mesopotamia" in the halls of the Book Chamber will feature objects of Assyrian ecclesiastical and secular art — paintings from the series "Living Assyria" by Yulia Mikhailova, "Portrait of Mar Shimun Binyamin" by Elena Isho, plaster reliefs depicting the winged bull Shedu by Anna Yakubova, historical photographs, spiritual books, various items of church utensils, and There are also objects demonstrating various historical and cultural aspects of Assyrian life.
The guests of the exhibition will learn a lot about the history, culture and spiritual tradition of the Assyrians, one of the oldest peoples of the earth, who converted to the faith of Christ in apostolic times, using the language in which the Holy Gospel was first preached to the world, and who have lived within the Russian state for centuries.
In addition, thematic excursions and creative meetings with the organizers of the exhibition, representatives of the Assyrian community of Moscow, will take place.
The event will be a continuation of the centuries-old tradition of strengthening ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, an important and significant event for all history lovers and art connoisseurs.