National Centre RUSSIA in Sergiyev Posad: A Dialogue on Culture, Faith, and Russia’s Future

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One of the country's most unusual museums — the Toy Museum in Sergiyev Posad — and one of Russia's main spiritual centres — the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius — were the key points of a working trip for the team of the National Centre RUSSIA. During the visit, the team took an extensive tour of the expositions, discussed prospects for joint projects, and enjoyed the unique educational, museum, and spiritual opportunities these sites offer for strengthening the country's cultural unity.

The N.D. Bartram Art and Pedagogical Toy Museum is rightly considered one of the most unusual in the country: its collection numbers approximately 200,000 museum items. This includes Russian folk toys, Soviet industrial toys, and many other rare show pieces. For example, a collection of toys which used to belong to the Imperial Romanov family is displayed here. The tour for the guests was led by Valentina Maksimovich, President of the Russian University of Traditional Arts and Crafts, and Olga Ozerova, Director of the Sergiyev Posad Institute of Toys.

The museum features exclusive toys produced as single copies. The National Centre RUSSIA team's attention was drawn to so-called polygraphic sets, particularly — to dissected geographical maps. These are an educational puzzle, with the help of which Tsarevich Alexei studied the world. Also of note was an antique lotto game with portraits of Russian sovereigns — through this game, a child would become acquainted with the rulers and important stages of the state's formation.

"Walking through the halls here is like returning to the past: traditions of different eras, family stories, and forgotten crafts come to life before your eyes. The Toy Museum is a bridge between generations, a living history, and a chance to feel like a child again. We hope that soon this amazing collection will also become accessible to visitors to the National Centre RUSSIA," said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

The museum's history dates back to the early 1910s, when artist and art historian Nikolai Bartram began collecting the first toy samples. He saw them as an independent form of art and an important element of cultural heritage. As early as 1918, his collection formed the basis of Russia's first toy museum. Shortly after, the exposition moved from Moscow to Sergiyev Posad and became one of the city's main landmarks. For over a century, the museum has preserved the history of an important part of everyone's childhood.

The N.D. Bartram Toy Museum is a structural subdivision of the Sergiyev Posad Institute of Toys — the country's only institution that trains specialists in the artistic design and modelling of toys. Its own history began in 1933.

"For us, a toy is not just a part of pastime, but a complex cultural text through which a child assimilates the values, traditions, and worldview of their time. Such show pieces like educational maps or historical lotto clearly show that in all eras, playing games was a powerful tool for upbringing and enlightenment. Our Institute of Toys studies this unique experience to help manufacturers, educators, and parents raise children on a solid foundation of national culture," said Valentina Maksimovich, President of the Russian University of Traditional Arts and Crafts.

After a thorough tour of the museum, the National Centre RUSSIA team proceeded to the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius — one of the country's main spiritual centres. This is a place that has shaped Russia's cultural and moral character for centuries. The guests took a walk through the monastery grounds, familiarising themselves with its history, churches, and traditions. Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, noted that the Lavra's spiritual legacy plays an important role in educating young people, shaping personality, worldview, and moral compass.

"Historical and spiritual centres like the Lavra are the foundation of our cultural code. They are the very basis upon which the values and worldview of many generations were formed. A living connection of times has been preserved here. And this connection is important today, when young people are searching for anchors and role models. We see huge potential in cooperation with such centres as this: this includes creating joint educational programmes, developing cultural initiatives and projects that will help young people better understand the country's history, respect its spiritual traditions, and realise their connection to the centuries-old legacy," she said.

The tour for the guests was conducted by Protopriest Afanasy Chornoguz, Dean of the Dmitrov Church District of the Sergiyev Posad Diocese.

"We are glad to welcome representatives of the National Centre RUSSIA to the Lavra and we know about the preparation of a large-scale exposition dedicated to our country's unity. I am convinced that St. Sergius, the unifier of Russian lands, and the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius are among the fundamental pillars of this unity. It is important for us that young people come here not only as tourists but also as seekers of meaning. We are open to cooperation in realising such initiatives. I am sure the National Centre RUSSIA will assist us in this," said Afanasy Chornoguz.

The National Centre RUSSIA team also viewed the exposition "Relics and Treasures of the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery of the 11th–17th Centuries". It consists of four chronological complexes housed in the halls of the Sacristy. The first hall contains the most ancient artifacts, including pre-Mongol amulets from the 11th–13th centuries, unique small icons, and artifacts associated with St. Sergius of Radonezh and created with the participation of Andrei Rublev. Other halls demonstrate the growth of the monastery's status as an all-Russian shrine, reflected in the richest royal donations, particularly from Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov, who donated precious vestments, church utensils, and embroideries.

"For centuries, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius was a place of special veneration and attention for Russian sovereigns, who regularly visited the monastery on pilgrimage and made the richest contributions. A particularly generous donor was Boris Godunov, whose reign is called the 'golden age' for the monastery's sacristy. Neither before nor after him did the Lavra receive such a quantity of precious gold and jewelled items, including luxurious settings for the main relic — the icon of the 'Trinity' painted by Andrei Rublev — as well as unique church utensils. This tradition of royal gift-giving was established by Ivan the Terrible and continued by the first Romanovs. The royal donations — whether precious settings, embroideries, or liturgical vessels — not only demonstrated the rulers' personal piety but also emphasised the Lavra's special status as a spiritual centre, a foundation of the unity and strength of the Russian state," said Ellina Potlova, Senior Research Fellow.

Natalia Virtuozova noted the uniqueness and beauty of the collection presented: "The collection is very beautiful. It shows how the monastery's sacristy transformed into a true treasury, where the donations from the Stroganovs, Mstislavskys, and Repnins were on par with the royal ones. I was particularly struck by the works of masters from the Armory Chamber, including unique items like the archimandrite's cap adorned with hundreds of stones. I thank Father Afanasy and Ellina Potlova for the insightful tour; it gave us much food for thought. We now eagerly await guests from the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius for a return visit to the National Centre RUSSIA."

The working trip to Sergiyev Posad became a significant step for the National Centre RUSSIA in studying the profound foundations of Russian cultural identity. What was seen will form the basis of future joint projects — from displays to educational programmes for youth — aimed at strengthening the living connection of times and historical continuity in the minds of new generations.