MaltaMedia.com

The participation by Heritage Malta in the exhibition at the Kremlin Museums entitled ‘Treasures of the Oder of Malta – Nine Centuries in the Service of Faith and Charity’ came to a successful conclusion on 9 September 2012 with 63,000 visitors visiting the exhibition over a period of two months. An attendance described by the Kremlin Museums Authorities as considerable even for the Kremlin. The exhibition attracted great interest amongst visitors to the Kremlin, with some even visiting it several times. Several Embassies in Moscow also booked guided excursions for diplomats to visit the exhibition. Interest in the exhibition was also shown by foreigners who called the organizers from abroad asking to buy the catalogue.

A collaboration spanning almost two years, between the Embassy of Malta in Moscow, the Mission of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, 14 museums, and 5 archive collections from Malta, Italy, France and Russia resulted in the presentation of over 200 exhibits depicting the historical link between Russia and the Order of Malta, and giving visitors a taste of the heritage of the Order’s stay in Malta for almost 270 years. The contribution by Heritage Malta of more than 25% of the artifacts on display has certainly enriched the exhibition and contributed in no small way to the success of this exhibition which has undoubtedly offered a unique opportunity to: promote Maltese cultural heritage in Moscow; kindle interest in Malta as a tourist destination; as well as, to forge links between Maltese and Russian museums, opening up possibilities for further collaboration on other projects in the future.