Elena Mikhailovna Yukhimenko,
Doctor of Philology, State Historical Museum, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Relics of Patriarch Tikhon in the Collection of the State Historical Museum
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2026-2-4
The article provides a detailed description of 19 unique items from the collections of the State Historical Museum, which are authentic relics of the Russian Orthodox Church of the early 20th century. A Blessing charter to Commercial Councilor P.P. Botkin for donations for the construction of the first Russian church in New York, 1901, 9 documents reflecting the work of the Local Council of 1917−1918, as well as a koukoulion and a staff, are associated with the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Tikhon (Bellavin). These artifacts reflect the most important periods of his ministry: from his leadership of the Aleutian and North American Diocese to his primacy following the restoration of the patriarchate and his leadership of the Church during the dramatic post-revolutionary years. This article presents for the first time a set of conciliar charters, based on designs by the artist B.V. Zvorykin at the renowned Moscow printing house of A.A. Levenson, as an artistic phenomenon related to the “Russian Style” in early 20th‑century art. The attribution of the precious panagia, which was mistakenly believed to have belonged to Patriarch Tikhon (in fact, it is a commemorative offering to his namesake Tikhon (Nikonorov), Bishop of Mozhaisk, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, canonized as a new martyr), has been revised. The article also provides a description of the unique set of artifacts that are a clear testimony to the missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church at the beginning of the 20th century, belonged to Bishop Nestor (Anisimov) of Kamchatka, who was close to Patriarch Tikhon and served as the Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Barnaul from 1956 to 1958.
Publishing: 28/04/2026
The article has been received by the editor on 20/01/2026
How to cite: Yukhimenko E.M. Relics of Patriarch Tikhon in the Collection of the State Historical Museum // Historical Courier, 2026, No. 2 (46), pp. 60−79. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2026/ISTKURIER-2026-2-04.pdf]
Links: Issue 2 2026
Keywords: Restoration of the Patriarchate; Local Council of 1917−1918; Patriarch of Moscow Tikhon (Bellavin); Bishop Nestor (Anisimov); Bishop Tikhon (Nikanorov)