Nikas Safronov donated icons worth 7 million rubles to a church in Ulyanovsk

On January 20, Nikas Safronov together with Ulyanovsk Region Governor Alexey Russkikh donated unique icons for a new iconostasis as well as antique icons to the Church of Saints Anne and Joachim. The church itself was built in the early 2000s by the People's Artist of Russia together with local patrons.

Experts estimate the total value of the project at 7 million rubles. Safronov covered all expenses for acquisition, restoration, and painting himself, calling the gift another contribution to the spiritual life of his hometown, of which he is an honorary citizen.

"The Church of Saint Anne has immense meaning for me. My mother was named Anna — she was a deeply kind and spiritual person who helped those in need and taught us charity from childhood. So when I learned that the church still had a temporary paper iconostasis, I promised to provide icons for a new one," Nikas Safronov said.

According to the artist, immediately after speaking with Governor Alexey Russkikh and Archpriest Sergey Efremov, he began studying the work of contemporary icon painters in order to commission the best masters for the altar screen. Over the course of a year, 38 icons were painted by graduates of the Repin and Glazunov academies as well as by Nikas Safronov himself.

Each icon was executed in tempera and reflects the richness of the Russian Orthodox tradition. In parallel, the artist's team carried out an extensive search for 12 antique Orthodox icons: some were bought from private collections, while others were acquired at auctions in Europe.

Nikas personally selected the antique icons and took an active part in their restoration. In total, 50 icons were transferred to the church, forming both the new iconostasis and a separate historical series important not only for liturgical life but also for the cultural heritage of the region.

The gift was accepted by Metropolitan Longin of Simbirsk and Novospassky and Archpriest Sergey Efremov. The ceremony took place in a solemn atmosphere, and Governor Alexey Russkikh stressed that such initiatives are of great importance both for believers and for preserving traditional values in the region.

"Nikas Stepanovich shows great care and sensitivity toward his small homeland. Today's event is of great importance for all believers. These icons will become not only objects of veneration, but also an important part of educational programs aimed at developing spiritual culture among young people," Alexey Russkikh noted.

The artist himself noted that he had especially wanted to complete the project by Christmas, though he found it symbolic that the iconostasis was installed immediately after Epiphany. In his words, this is a major event for Ulyanovsk that strengthens the city's spiritual life and highlights the importance of cooperation between the authorities, the Church, and patrons.

Nikas Safronov recalled that he had previously taken part in building the Church of Saint Anne in honor of his mother, and during the pandemic he personally purchased and restored an early eighteenth-century icon of Saint Nicholas. Over the past eight years, the artist has donated more than 70 icons to the church and continues to support cultural and educational initiatives in Ulyanovsk and the wider region.

The new iconostasis is expected to attract both pilgrims and visitors, while also becoming an important part of educational programs devoted to the history of Orthodox art and Russia's spiritual heritage.