Fontanka: The Hermitage will hand over the sarcophagus of Alexander Nevsky to the Russian Orthodox Church

On Wednesday, May 10, Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky signed an agreement with Metropolitan Varsonofy on the transfer of the sarcophagus of Alexander Nevsky to the Russian Orthodox Church. It is reported by “Fontanka” with reference to its source.

According to the interlocutor of the publication, now a one and a half ton work of art made of silver will be transported from the museum to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

The press service of the Hermitage told Fontanka that the order of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on the transfer was signed by First Deputy Minister Sergei Obryvalin. At the same time, the contract between the Diocese and the museum has not yet been fully finalized.

Data on the timing of the transfer currently vary. So, according to the source, this can happen “on the Trinity”, that is, in early June. While the Hermitage explains that it is technically impossible to transfer the exhibit at such a speed due to many conditions, this may happen by the end of the year.

The publication recalls that questions about the transfer of the sarcophagus of Alexander Nevsky from the State Hermitage have been raised for many years.

At the end of 2021, Patriarch Kirill called for the return of Alexander Nevsky’s shrine from the Hermitage to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The Hermitage stated that in the 1920s the authorities of the USSR wanted to send this unique work of art to be melted down. However, the museum workers defended the sarcophagus – in return for this, silver coins from the Hermitage collection were given for remelting.

In recent years, the museum has been engaged in the restoration of this complex of decorations of the tomb of Alexander Nevsky. At the end of 2021, the press service of the Hermitage said that “the restoration will last at least another two years.”