The private museum of Russian icon opened its doors for tourism industry. An excursion for inbound and domestic tour operators was  held in private museum of Russian icon in Moscow.

      The museum was founded by businessman and patron Mikhail Abramov. Museum is the only private collection of Byzantine and ancient Russian arts in Russia, officially transformed into a public museum the status of which was confirmed by its inclusion in the International Council of Museums. Some halls represent interactive exhibits. There is a reconstructed icon painting workshop with artist steadily working there; an Old Believers’ chapel with restored interior corresponding to Bezpopovtsy sectarians’ prayer house and a temple area with an unique monument in Russia – an authentic carved Greek iconostasis dating from the end of 17th century. The collection contains nearly 4,500 exhibits.

      Specialists say that some of the exhibits in the collection are more valuable than the masterpieces of the Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian Museum. The icon ”Virgin Odigitria” (14th century) by Simon Ushakov, icon of Saint Nikolay Mirlikiisky (14th century) and a Greek iconostasis of the late 17th century are among the most valuable exhibits in the collection. Icon "Affection” (15th century) from the Greek island of Crete – which by a miracle was not burned in last year's fire in the Grabar Art Center – is also on display here.