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Mother Patroness Monument

Mother Patroness Monument is one of the landmarks of Cheboksary, in the Chuvash Republic, and is regarded as a symbol of the city and the country as a whole. It also represents the revival of the spiritual values of the Chuvash people. The monument is located in the restored historic part of Cheboksary, on an ancient hill beside the western waterfront of Cheboksary Bay. Together with its pedestal, it reaches a height of 46 meters, making it larger than any monument previously created in Chuvashia. At the base of the basin, a bilingual inscription in Russian and Chuvash reads: “Blessed are my children, living in peace and love.”

Mother Patroness monument in Cheboksary, a robed bronze figure with outstretched arms atop a tall pillar above landscaped steps and lawns.
The Mother Patroness monument rises above a landscaped hillside in Cheboksary, overlooking the water.
July 2003 © · FAL
Mother Patroness statue on a tall pedestal, overlooking a landscaped hill and staircase.
The Mother Patroness monument rises above a landscaped hillside with a long staircase leading up to it.
© · CC BY 3.0
The Mother Patroness statue stands on a tall pedestal with outstretched arms, reached by steps and fountains.
The Mother Patroness monument rises above a landscaped plaza in Cheboksary.
© · CC BY 3.0
Mother Patroness statue with outstretched arms on a tall pedestal above a stepped plaza.
The Mother Patroness monument rises above a hillside plaza in Cheboksary, Chuvashia.
May 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mother Patroness statue on a tall pedestal above a terraced staircase with fountains in Cheboksary.
The Mother Patroness monument rises above a terraced staircase and fountains near the water in Cheboksary.
© · Public domain

Identification

TitleMother Patroness Monument
Alternative namesMother Monument; Mother-Patroness Monument; Monument to the Mother Protector of Cheboksary; Chuvash: "Анне-Пирĕшти" palăkĕ
TypeMonument
SubjectMother figure

Iconography and meaning

DedicationDedicated to the mother figure; according to Nikolay Fyodorov's idea, to all mothers and the mother of Chuvashia
ConceptA monument to an idea

Historical context

InitiatorNikolay Vasilyevich Fyodorov, first President of Chuvashia
Design conceptDeveloped from Fyodorov's idea and project

Creator

SculptorVladimir Nagornov
ArchitectsV. Filatov; Yu. Novoselov; A. Oreshnikov
Scientific consultantA. Trofimov

Discovery and provenance

FundingA charitable foundation was established for construction, on the initiative of the creative intelligentsia, the public, and several organizations of the Chuvash Republic
Construction participationCadets of the military department of Chuvash State University participated in the final stage of construction

Physical characteristics

SizeLargest monument created in Chuvashia before its construction
Height46 meters including the pedestal

Appearance

InscriptionAt the lower part of the pedestal, in Russian and Chuvash: "Blessed are my children, living in peace and love."

Location and ownership

LocationCheboksary, Chuvash Republic, Russia
SiteHistorical part of Cheboksary, on an ancient hill adjacent to the western waterfront of Cheboksary Bay
AccessReached by 99 steps
Nearby landmarkCheboksary Bay; the Cathedral of the Presentation (used in comparison)

History and restoration

Opening date9 May 2003
Opening and blessingOpened and consecrated by Metropolitan Barnava (Barnabas) of Cheboksary and Chuvashia

Significance

City significanceOne of the dominant landmarks of Cheboksary and a symbol of the capital of the Chuvash Republic and of the republic as a whole; also described as a symbol of the country
Cultural significanceA symbol of the revival of the spiritual values of the Chuvash people

Other

Critical receptionAtner Khuzangay described the monument as somewhat rough in appearance, with the woman's arms strangely spread apart, and said that standing next to it gives an unpleasant impression; he considered the basic idea good and suggested it should have been raised by about 15 meters
Religious criticismFormer priest Andrey Berman of the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cheboksary criticized Metropolitan Barnava for idolatry for blessing the monument
Height limitation noteAccording to the account, the Church opposed making it higher because it was not supposed to be taller than the Cathedral of the Presentation
Attributed promotionKhuzangay thought art historian Alexey Alexandrovich Trofimov promoted the idea