All-Russian competition of Orthodox painting among convicts “Phenomenon” 11/10/2026translated

As part of the Moscow regional educational Christmas readings and the All-Russian review of the religious activities of convicts serving a sentence of imprisonment, “Not in numbers, but in humility,” the preliminary stage of the Orthodox painting competition for convicts “The Phenomenon” was held in the institutions of the Main Directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Moscow region. The competition was organized by the Synodal Department of the Russian Orthodox Church for Prison Ministry and the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. The artistic works prepared by the convicts were devoted to the theme: “Faith in the life of the convict.” The GUFSIN of Russia in the Moscow region received 17 creative works prepared by convicts serving sentences in correctional institutions in the Moscow region. When evaluating the artwork, the competition committee took into account the compositional solution, writing technique and the semantic meaning of the plot. Methodological assistance to the convicts in painting paintings was provided by clergy assigned to the units.

The chairman of the interdiocesan department for prison ministry, priest Mikhail Kuzemka, noted that through fine art, through creativity, convicts can convey what is sometimes difficult to express in words: emotional experiences from lack of freedom...