At the very beginning of the calendar year, in early January, the day of remembrance of the epic hero, defender of Rus, bogatyr Ilya Muromets, is celebrated. We know him since childhood as a warrior of the Russian Land and protector of the weak and defenceless.

This date is included in the Russian calendar of unusual holidays and is celebrated annually. The holiday recalls the dialogue of generations, reminds that the people preserve the memory of the valour and loyalty of the Russian heroes. This is not just a tribute to the memory of great ancestors, but also a call for the unity of the nation, awareness of sacred pride in our spiritual heritage and culture.

The image of Ilya Muromets embodies a complex synthesis of epochs, being a link between the pre-Christian past and the new spiritual pillar of the Russian people. The archaic layer of the Russian epos endows the hero with the function of a defender: he embodies the physical power of the earth, guarding the borders of his native land, and resisting the forces of chaos in the guise of mythical monsters.

With the advent of Christianity, the power of the hero acquires a new meaning: the hero remains a model of courage, but serves both people and the Creator.

The double narrative does not contradict, but complements the image of Ilya and allows us to see how the national memory outgrows the framework of religion, preserving the personal values of courage, honour and responsibility to society and God. In the Orthodox tradition, at the beginning of January, the memory of St. Ilya Pechersky, the wonderworker of Murom, a warrior and monk that served the Motherland during the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, is honoured.

In the famous painting "Bogatyrs” (Heroes) by Viktor Vasnetsov, Ilya Muromets is depicted as a mighty warrior. His figure dominates the composition: he is closer to the viewer, with an accentuated chest and confident posture, which conveys the hero's indestructible fortitude and endurance. The background reveals distant landscapes; the light highlights the contours of muscles and armour, creating the image of a powerful defender of the Russian land.

The 19^th century in Russia is characterized by a desire to revive and reconstruct the past. Painters and writers searched for authentic features of the ancient Russian heritage, combining them with the realities of their time. The reproduction of the hero became a way to establish national identity and spiritual values.

The museum Collection exposition features a silver cigarette case created by the artisans of the Cheryatov gold and silverware factory in the period 1908-1917.
Silver rectangular gilded cigarette case with rounded sides and corners, consists of two equal halves connected by a hinge, with a snap shutter. A painting by V. M. Vasnetsov “The Bogatyrs” (Heroes, 1898) is reproduced in the he technique of matte painted enamel “en plein” on the upper part of the top cover in the ogee-shaped medallion. The image is framed by a fancy chased floral pattern of stems, acanthus leaves, buds, lily flowers and palmettes. Artistically decorated carved monogram "МШ" is in the smooth bottom part. An oval insert of chrysolite cabochon is in the snap shutter. The cigarette case is made in the Neo-Russian style.