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The regional governor visited the Spiritual and Educational Center of the Penza Diocese at the Spassky Cathedral, where the festival of modern church art "To See and Hear" opened. First held in Moscow in 2023, the festival gained interregional status in 2025 and is now taking place in five Russian regions, including Penza Oblast.
The governor viewed an exhibition of modern church art by Penza artists, as well as project works dedicated to the restoration of churches under the regional initiative "Golden Ring of the Sura Land."
"The project had a specific goal—and we already see the first results, which are presented here at the exhibition," Oleg Melnichenko noted. "The main achievement, of course, is the revival of our sacred site—the Spassky Cathedral. The restored cathedral, lost by our ancestors, now stands in its historical location—where the original church was built when Penza was founded."
The governor emphasized that the restoration of the Spassky Cathedral has united thousands of residents across the region.
"The revival of the cathedral has become a lifelong mission for many Penza residents. We see the fruits of labor from countless people, and it is wonderful that this project has brought locals together in the sacred work of restoring the church," Oleg Melnichenko said.
The governor, the metropolitan, festival participants, and guests assessed the progress of the cathedral’s interior painting. The work is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, after which craftsmen will begin renovating the narthex.