Brief information about the State Museum of the History of Religion

The Museum of the History of Religion is an unique museum in Russia. It was
established in 1932. Till the present time the Museum is situated in the
Kazan Cathedral, which is an architectural monument of world significance.

Now the Museum keeps 180.000 items cults on Russian Orthodoxy, Catholicism,
Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and other religions and beliefs. One can
find masterpieses of National and World Culture in the collections of fine
arts, icon-painting,engraving, lithography, sculpture, arts and crafts,
medals, coins, photos, stamps, etc. The archives of manuscripts and rare
books, the unique specialized library on the History and Philosophy of
Religion, on the History of World and National Culture contain over 170.000
books and magazines of XV-XX cc. in the languages of various nations of the
world.

The Museum continually carries out independent and joint ( with another
museums ) exhibitions in St. Petersburg and another cities of Russia.
Since 1992 the exhibitions have been held in Switzerland, England, Italy,
Finland.

Now time the Museum elaborates a complex programme of total cataloguing and
computering of the funds, intensifies scientific-research activity,
realizations Russian and International conferences, enlarges the publucation
of scientific, scientific-popular, training-methodical issues, albums,
catalogues.

An XIX century building is being reconstructed for the Museum and after
completion of thous repair in 1996-1998 the 8.000 sq. m. will be used by to
the Museum for the needs. The halls of constant exposition, halls of temporary
exhibitions, library and reading-halls, cafe, premises for the Board of
Directors etc. will occupy this building.

By the end of XX century the Museum will be come a leading ( in Russia ) and
largest ( in North East Europe ) exhibitional, research and methodical centre
on problems of the History and Philosophy of Religion, of the Religious Art,
Psychology, Moral etc.

It is possible to get more detaild pictoryal information in the informative
network Internet: " www. relig-museum.ru " o " www. bestrussia.com ".

Your sincerely,
Chief of the Department of External Relations
and Commercial Activity of SMHR
Yan Kucinsky

Yan Kucinsky
The state museum of the history of religion
Kazanskaya pl.2, St.Petersburg
Russia, 191186
tel.315-58-32; 312-35-86
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