The State Museum of the History of Religion is one of the most famous in Russia and around the world. It was founded in 1932, thanks to the initiative of Vladimir Tan-Bogorazov, a linguist and ethnographer. Among the three largest museums dedicated to this subject, one of which is located in the UK, and the other in Taiwan, the museum in St. Petersburg is the oldest with the largest collection of exhibits. Bright and colorful museum exhibits introduce the history of major religions, ancient beliefs and rites. Having walked through the halls, you can make a journey through time and plunge into the atmosphere of the world of followers of religious movements. Each hall contains cult objects with a detailed description, understandable even to young visitors. Also, especially for children, the Museum of the History of Religion offers a “Beginnings” department, where classes for children of all ages are held.
History of the museum
In 1930, an exhibition was held on the territory of the Winter Palace, where various cult objects brought from around the world were presented, as well as a large number of icons, ancient manuscripts, sculptures, paintings and graphics. It was a tremendous success, such that it was decided to create a museum of the history of religion.
St. Petersburg at that time was shrouded in ideas about the incompatibility of the church and scientific approaches, so the purpose of the museum was to talk about religion as a form of ideology and to show the development of materialistic and atheistic views. Due to these features, the location of the museum was the Kazan Cathedral. Initially, its name sounded as follows - "Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism." In 1991, it was decided to return the building of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan to the Orthodox Church, and the museum was given the premises on Pochtamtskaya Street, where it is still located. At the same time, he changed his name to the current one.
Exposition of archaic beliefs and rites
In the first halls, you can see the history of ancient beliefs, where exhibits tell us that from the very inception of mankind people have tried to understand how the universe works and determine their place in it. Of course, the most incomprehensible event for a primitive man was the cessation of life, so funeral rituals and objects associated with them make up a considerable part of the collection. Historians attribute the origin of religious rites to the Paleolithic era, where Neanderthals take care of the dead, believing in the afterlife. The halls of the museum, thanks to a special acoustic system, transmit the cave atmosphere, and rock paintings are recreated on the walls with amazing accuracy.
Exposition of religions of the Ancient world
The following doors, which are opened by the State Museum of the History of Religion, lead into the halls dedicated to the beliefs of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, Minoan Crete. There are exhibits such as Egyptian sarcophagi, ancient Greek vessels, funerary masks, as well as various small fashioned objects. This period was a transition for humanity from the era of primitiveness to civilization.
Exposition of the religion of the Jews
Further, the museum halls tell visitors about the development of Judaism. Here ritual objects are presented - cultural monuments, the motifs of the Bible and the Jerusalem Temple are the basis of the wall decoration.
To consider Judaism, you can choose several angles. The Museum of the History of Religion offers to get acquainted with the exposition, as with the biblical period, or as with the period of the emergence of monotheism, as well as present history through the eyes of the Jews.
Christianity Exposition
In this part of the museum, the history of the development of Christianity is consecrated in detail, it tells about the Jewish sources, the first prophecies, the life of Jesus Christ, as well as the history of the first churches.
There are halls dedicated to Orthodoxy, in which exhibits such as icons, vestments, books and temple utensils are presented.
The branches of Christianity — Catholicism and Protestantism — are singled out separately. You can learn about their history of origin and development by visiting the corresponding premises with expositions.
Exposition of religions of the East
The Museum of the History of Religion has a large number of exhibits in this section. More than 1000 monuments open the religious world of the countries of South, Central and East Asia. Here you can get acquainted with the various religions of China, Japan and India.
Virtual museum
For people who do not have the opportunity to come to St. Petersburg, the Museum of the History of Religion offers a virtual tour. On the official website, by clicking on the “virtual museum” tab, you can visit exhibitions and expositions, view collections, participate in discussions and familiarize yourself with the restoration process. In addition, the museum’s educational portal leads to several information resources, and the library contains interesting documentaries.
The Open University of the History of Religions of the World offers to listen to lectures on various aspects of beliefs. The topics and dates of lectures can be found on the official website of the museum.
Excursions in Moscow
If you are a resident of the capital, then to get acquainted with the world's creeds it is not necessary to visit St. Petersburg. The Museum of the History of Religion, of course, is difficult to replace, but it is possible to create a general concept and plunge into the atmosphere of religious life. To do this, you should visit a tour called "World Religions in Moscow." The guide will tell you in detail about the architecture of the churches, the role of symbols, the features of each of the creeds, and much more. The program includes a visit to a mosque, the Anglican Church, the Church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, a synagogue, Lutheran and Catholic Cathedral. The Museum of the History of Religion in Moscow is, in fact, a museum of churches, real faiths today.
Museum Night
Both in Moscow and in St. Petersburg, an annual action called “Night at the Museum” is held. At this time, all museums open the doors for visitors and offer to see collections for free. In addition, special performances, games and educational quizzes are held. The Museum of the History of Religion also does not pass this action. During it, he acquaints residents and guests of the northern capital with ethnic music and dancing, conducts fascinating quests and master classes, and also offers to participate in traditional rites of the peoples of the world. “Museum Night”, as usual, takes place on the night of May 17-18. She will give children unforgettable impressions that will remain in her memory for a long time.
Programs for children
Performances, interesting and informative programs, fascinating stories and much more for children of all ages can be watched and listened not only within the framework of the action, but throughout the year. According to the state target program for creating open education systems, the museum offers excursions and performances for boys and girls from 1st to 11th grade. This allows us to further strengthen cooperation between the school and the museum, to raise the educational work to a new level. Activation of the child’s creative abilities is the goal of the entire museum pedagogy. It is worth noting that her museum reaches, and at the moment, 1/3 of all visitors are precisely schoolchildren.
Contact Information
In order to organize an excursion for children, you should contact the excursion reservation service by phone: (812) 314-58-38. By agreement, a special museum bus can arrive for students.
To increase the level of your education, there is an opportunity to participate in interesting discussions and listen to a course of fascinating lectures. For information on these aspects of the museum’s activities, please call: (812) 571-47-91.
The official address where the Museum of the History of Religion is located: St. Petersburg, ul. Post Office, 14/5.
The museum is open from 10 to 18 hours daily, except Wednesday. Ticket offices - up to 17 hours.
Every first Monday of the month is a social day when you can view all the expositions for free.
You can get on trolley buses 5 and 22 or by shuttle bus: 6, 62, 169, 190, 350 and 306.