Nizhny Novgorod residents will be shown updated masterpieces of wooden temple sculpture.

      On April 7, 2026, at 17:13, Culture and Leisure: 47 wooden church sculpture monuments from the 17th to early 20th centuries have returned to the Nizhny Novgorod region after extensive restoration and conservation. The work was carried out at the All-Russian Artistic Scientific Restoration Center named after Academician I.E. Grabar, as reported by the regional Ministry of Culture.

      The exhibits were restored from the collections of the Nizhny Novgorod Museum-Reserve and the Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum, as well as municipal museums in Arzamas, Balakhna, Vetluga, Gorodets, and the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese Museum. The project was implemented as part of a comprehensive restoration program initiated in 2025 by the order of Governor Gleb Nikitin.

      The head of the region noted that the preservation and popularization of unique cultural heritage is a tribute to history and spiritual roots.

      "The wooden church sculpture of the Nizhny Novgorod Volga region is an exceptional phenomenon; for a long time, it remained inaccessible to the general public due to its fragility. It was decided to support this project to bring masterpieces back from oblivion, give them a second life, and present them to the people of Nizhny Novgorod in their true grandeur. This is an investment in our identity that will remain for future generations," said Gleb Nikitin.

      The restoration was carried out with the support of the ANO "ASIRIS."

      The agency emphasized that the Nizhny Novgorod land has historically been famous for its carving masters, and the return of these works to the cultural space confirms the continuity of traditions.

      Collaboration with the federal center not only strengthened and restored the monuments but also preserved their authenticity, which is important for understanding the characteristics of regional carving in the Volga region. According to experts, many works were executed at a high professional level, likely by invited capital craftsmen.

      According to Yuri Filippov, the general director of the Nizhny Novgorod Museum-Reserve, some sculptures had been in emergency condition in the funds for decades.

      "We saw amazing results. For example, the 17th-century sculpture of Nicholas of Mozhaysk revealed bright, rich colors of clothing after cleaning. The restorers worked like surgeons; thanks to the complex of restoration and conservation activities, we essentially have the opportunity to see all these monuments," he said.

      The restored works will form the basis of the exhibition "Cathedral of Saints. Three Centuries of Wooden Church Sculpture of the Nizhny Novgorod Region" (6+), which will open on April 13 at the Manege of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. In addition to the exhibits themselves, visitors will be presented with a scientific film (6+) about the restoration process, prepared by the museum-reserve staff in collaboration with specialists from the Grabar Center.

      It was previously reported that the "Pushkin Courtyard" is planned to be arranged in the center of Nizhny Novgorod.

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