International congress “Historical-cultural and spiritual heritage of Sviyazhsk” opens in Kazan

On July 15, Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, Secretary-general of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Grigory Ordzhonikidze, Deputy Chairman of Tatarstan State Council, CEO of the Revival Regional Foundation Tatyana Larionova , Deputy Head of Tatarstan President’s Administrative Office, Head of the Tatarstan Presidential Department for internal policy Aleksandr Terentiev took part in the official opening and plenary session of the International congress “Historical-cultural and spiritual heritage of Sviyazhsk” were held at the Kazan Kremlin.

The forum was organized with the auspices of Russian and Tatarstan Ministries of culture, Regional foundation for the revival of historical and cultural monuments, Kazan Federal University, Kazan university of culture and art, Academy of sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Historical-architectural and art museum “Island town of Sviyazhsk”.

More than 100 experts in the sphere of preservation and restoration of historical and cultural monuments, medieval monumental painting and icon painting, scientists from academic institutes and universities, museum workers, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church came to Kazan to take part in the congress.
The congress aims to study historical-cultural and spiritual heritage of Sviyazhsk, develop approaches to its preservation, restoration and promotion, and give the scientific evidence of outstanding universal value of the Assumption Cathedral and Trinity Church in order to prepare the nomination file for presentation to UNESCO World Heritage Committee in autumn.

Minister of culture of the republic Airat Sibagatullin, who held the event, said that Tatarstan shows the example of close interaction between the state, research and educational centers, and wide public movement in the sphere of preservation of the cultural heritage.

Speaking at the event, Mintimer Shaimiev noted big responsibility of the republic for World heritage sites, and told about a unique role of Sviyazhsk in the history of Russia. He noted that Sviyazhsk is the only example of the Old Russian architectural art.

Shaimiev noted that the best experts came to the forum and thanked them for participation in the event.

Later on the same day, Sibagatullin read out greetings of the Russian Minister of culture Vladimir Medinsky.