Published on: 2026-08-20
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus’ and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation of the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the founding of the first monastic settlement on the Solovetsky Archipelago. The anniversary will be celebrated in 2029.
The meeting took place in the Hospital (Treasury) building of the Transfiguration Solovetsky Stavropegial Monastery during the Patriarch’s visit, timed to coincide with the celebrations in honor of the feast day of Saints Zosima, Savvatiy, and Herman of Solovki.
The council meeting was attended by the First Deputy Minister of Culture Sergey Obryvalin, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky, Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov, Chairman of the Council of the Solovetsky Archipelago Preservation and Development Fund Andrey Guts, Abbot of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Stavropegial Monastery Bishop Porphyry of Ozerki, representatives of public and religious associations, as well as various agencies and organizations.
Opening the meeting, Patriarch Kirill emphasized the importance of work to preserve and develop the Solovetsky Archipelago, which is connected not only with the Orthodox significance of these places, the labor feat of the monks who created the shrine, but also with the history and culture of the Solovki.
“In 1429, the first monks arrived on the Solovetsky Islands, whose prayers and labors created a shrine that became the spiritual stronghold of the Russian North. Thanks to creative labor, the Solovetsky Monastery became an outstanding monument of Russian architecture and a fortress on the enemy’s path. The 600-year history of Solovki includes both glorious moments connected with our national history and the spiritual life of the people, as well as years of hardship when the monastery was turned into a special-purpose camp. Marking the jubilee of monastic life in 2029, we must pay tribute to those who also endured their ordeal here, including during the years of repression,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch emphasized that today the sacred place is being revived through joint efforts. Extensive restoration work is underway at 13 sites in the monastery, another 10 have been completed, including five chapels and the Church of Venerable Herman. Construction work on a waste management complex has been completed, resulting in the removal of a landfill. Additionally, repair work has been carried out on the airport complex in the settlement, a new hospital has been built, and next in line is the completion of the installation of sewer and water supply networks, as well as bringing Solovki roads into proper condition.
The Patriarch noted that by 2029 it is important to complete the repair and modernization of the remaining facilities.
The concept for preserving the Solovki includes the development of not only the cultural but also the natural potential of the archipelago.
Co-chairman of the organizing committee, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his kind words about the members of the organizing committee, noting that they truly work as one team. He expressed gratitude to the governors present at the organizing committee meeting for their work and participation in organizing the anniversary: Alexander Tsybulsky (Arkhangelsk Region), Alexander Beglov (Saint Petersburg), and Arthur Parfenchikov (Republic of Karelia). Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that the work is under the supervision of the Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
“The decree on celebrating the 600th anniversary of the founding of the first monastic settlement on the Solovki Islands was signed by President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin less than three years ago. Thanks to your efforts, a great deal of work has been done. We are simultaneously restoring 13 sites, building and modernizing 12 pieces of settlement infrastructure. Special attention is being paid to the improvement of public spaces in the Solovetsky settlement. Five territories have been designated, which we will bring to perfect order by 2029. Importantly, the work on creating a comprehensive concept for the preservation and development of the entire Solovetsky archipelago has been completed,” emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister.
Dmitry Chernyshenko added that great attention is paid to the preservation and popularization of the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the archipelago. Rosmolodezh, together with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the government of the Arkhangelsk region, and the Fund for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago, has developed and is implementing a plan of historical-patriotic and spiritual-moral activities for youth based on the history of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery – the northern outpost of Russia and the most important spiritual and economic center of the Russian North.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that work on a number of facilities is progressing ahead of schedule. This year, additional funds have been allocated for the major overhaul of four apartment buildings and the construction of a modular sports hall.
Governor of the region Alexander Tsybulsky spoke about the work of the Arkhangelsk region in preparing for the 600th anniversary of the founding of the first monastic settlement on the Solovetsky archipelago. He noted that it is important to approach the anniversary with concrete results. The head of the region outlined a number of projects that have already been implemented. These include the modernization of the Solovki airport terminal and the construction of a district hospital building, which began accepting patients about a year ago. Alexander Tsybulsky also reported on the progress of work on social sphere facilities and utility infrastructure that are of primary importance. This includes work on water supply and sewage networks, major repairs of a kindergarten, designing a sports hall, and preparation for the repair of the Solovetsky school. Work is also underway on the improvement of territories in the settlement.
“It is important that the anniversary is not limited only to events in 2029. It is necessary to consistently reveal the historical, spiritual, and cultural significance of the Solovki to the widest audience even now. Therefore, we are gradually forming not only the infrastructure but also the substantive program of the anniversary, which will allow us to tell people of different generations and in various formats about the Solovki,” emphasized the governor.
Thus, preparations are underway for the traveling photo exhibition “Holy Island in the White Sea,” the All-Russian festival of Orthodox choirs and a creative children’s drawing contest on the theme “Solovki” are planned, as well as plein airs of artists at Solovki titled “Spiritual Frontiers.” The website moisolovki.rf has been created with information about the archipelago and its attractions, the national tourist route of the Arkhangelsk region “Secret North: from Arkhangelsk to Solovki” is operational, and the project “Cartoons about Solovki: six hundred years,” supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, continues.
In addition, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus’ and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky and the abbot of the Holy Transfiguration Solovetsky stavropegic men’s monastery, Bishop Porphyry, assessed the restored objects of the central monastery complex and the renovated airport.
His Holiness appreciated how the airfield has been transformed. It is from here that guests begin their acquaintance with the cultural and historical shrine. In previous years, a major infrastructure project was carried out at the airport involving reconstruction, including the renovation of the runway. Last year, the reconstruction of the passenger terminal was completed.
The Governor of Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky emphasized that the region became the first operator of the Il-114–300 – a domestic aircraft created in part for the needs of the North and the Arctic. One of the first planned flights is to Solovki. Dmitry Chernyshenko proposed naming the new aircraft, which will operate flights to the archipelago, after one of the Solovetsky saints, if blessed by the Patriarch. His Holiness supported the initiative.
Also, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Governor, and the bishop visited the Transfiguration Monastery and the Holy Trinity Zosima-Savvatiy Cathedral.
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