Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Moscow region "New Jerusalem"

Moscow Oblast
Novoyerusalimskaya embankment, 1, Istra, Moscow region.
Phones: +7 (498) 314-02-36
Web site: njerusalem.ru

Russian Russian Orthodox Church's permanent exhibitions introduce visitors to the personality of Patriarch Nikon (the founder of the new Jerusalem resurrection monastery) and reveal this monastery as an important monument of Russian architecture, Russian history and culture.
The Museum's funds number 190 thousand exhibits. These are archaeological, historical, artistic and ethnographic collections.
Guests of the Museum can see historical exhibits in a modern space, which is complemented by multimedia technologies.
In the" Special storeroom " of the Museum there are objects of decorative and applied art made of precious metals and precious stones, worthy of the halls of the Diamond Fund in their beauty and value. There are also unique monuments of facial and ornamental sewing, the history of which will be told in detail by the guides.
Another permanent exhibition of the Museum is devoted to Russian Church and secular art of a very voluminous period – the XVI-early XX centuries.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, new exhibitions are shown every three months in the New Jerusalem complex. The Museum organizes these projects together with well-known Russian and foreign museums, as well as with private collectors. For example, in recent years, the works of the great masters Aivazovsky, Shishkin, Levitan, Picasso, Durer, Faberge, Chagall have been presented here.

The Museum and exhibition complex "New Jerusalem" is located in the city of Istra, Moscow region, near the resurrection new Jerusalem monastery.
The modern Museum and the ancient monastery, harmoniously blended into the picturesque natural landscape, in fact represent a grandiose tourist complex with a common history.
The Museum was established in the spring of 1920, under Soviet rule. At that time, there was a struggle with religion, the resurrection new Jerusalem monastery as an Orthodox monastery was abolished, but a Museum was organized within its walls to store and demonstrate its architectural and artistic heritage to visitors. Soon the monastery opened another Museum – local history, and in 1922 these two museums were combined into one. The first exhibition was presented to visitors in 1925 in the Refectory chambers of the monastery.
Since the beginning of the Museum's existence, its collections have been regularly replenished. Unfortunately, during the great Patriotic war, only a small part of the exhibits were evacuated to Kazakhstan. When the Nazis occupied Istra, they looted the Museum in just two weeks. And when the invaders had to retreat, they blew up the ensemble of the new Jerusalem monastery. The last remnants of the Museum's once rich collection were destroyed. By the way, after the end of the war, the facts of the explosion of the monastery in New Jerusalem and the destruction of the Museum appeared in the Nuremberg trials.
In the coming peacetime, the lost Museum complex and its collections had to be restored literally from the ruins. By the 1990s, there were already 42 halls in which the most extensive expositions were presented.
In 1991, the institution changed its profile and became known as the Historical, architectural and art Museum "New Jerusalem".
Since 2014, the Museum, which used to be located within the walls of the monastery, has moved to a new, modern building. It is designed very unusual (made in the style of "green architecture") and accommodates more than 10 thousand square meters of exhibition space.
In recent years, New Jerusalem has become one of the most popular places in the Moscow region, which is visited by tourists from all over the world.

Every week, concerts, plays, and musicals are shown in The new Jerusalem concert hall or in its open area.
In addition to exploring the Museum's exhibits and the beauty of this unique place, guests can visit two large souvenir shops.
The resurrection new Jerusalem monastery is within walking distance of the Museum and is open to the public.