One of the famous contemporary Russian patrons is Moscow businessman Abramov Mikhail Yuryevich. The founder of several companies, the actual owner of the construction Plaza Development, he created and opened at his own expense the famous Museum of Russian Icon (Moscow, Goncharnaya Street, 3). It exists exclusively at the expense of its founder.
The beginning of the biography of Abramov Mikhail Yuryevich
Mikhail Abramov was born on October 12, 1963 in Moscow. His parents - ordinary Soviet people, doctors, were not rich, indifferent to religion.
Mikhail’s childhood and youth passed in Moscow. In this city, he studied at 232 school, which he graduated in 1981. Immediately he entered the Institute of Light Industry (Moscow), where he began to study at the Faculty of Chemical Technology.
Military service, continued studies, baptism
After studying for a year, Abramov was called up for military service in the ranks of the Soviet Army. In 1982, in the city of Yelets, he studied at the school of sergeants for six months. After its graduation, he was sent to serve in the Arctic, on the Kola Peninsula. Having spent two years in the ranks of the SA, he was demobilized, having risen to the rank of "senior sergeant."
Returning home, Michael continued his studies, since 1985, at the same faculty, but preferred the evening form of training.
In the same period, Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov made a fateful decision for himself - he converted to the Orthodox faith, having accepted the rite of baptism.
Start of business and career achievements
Given the fact that Michael studied in the evening, the rest of the time he was engaged in entrepreneurial activity. Since 1985, taking advantage of the “Perestroika” period, he has been creating a number of cooperatives that are engaged in sewing fur and leather products.
He was engaged in this activity until the beginning of the nineties of the XX century.
In 1991, he finds a new application for himself - he goes to work at the Moscow insurance company Ingosstrakh, begins to work there in structures involved in the construction of structures in the capital and the Moscow region.
In it, he quickly and successfully begins to move up the career ladder, becoming in 2000 the first deputy general director.
Hobbies - collecting icons
Talking about this activity, Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov reports that in the process of fulfilling his official duties, ensuring the construction and sale (sale, leasing) of residential buildings, office premises, cottages, up to entire villages in the Moscow region, he managed to collect (save up) a substantial amount of money.
This led Mikhail Abramov to think about where to invest the funds raised. In 2003, he decided that the best option would be to purchase, collect icons. In the same year, Mikhail Yurievich buys the first hundred images.
According to Mikhail Yurievich Abramov, it follows that he began to show interest in icons from his childhood. His stepfather, teacher, doctor of sciences, a very educated intellectual, kept several valuable and ancient icons. He was originally from Siberia. His ancestors were wealthy breeders, manufacturers. They were educated people, philanthropists, well versed in art. Stepfather told Mikhail about their history, and also spoke about the icons inherited from him.
Since 2003, since the purchase of ancient icons, Mikhail Abramov begins to know them. Study in detail the history of icon painting in Russia and in Orthodoxy as a whole. Famous scientists and specialists from Moscow and St. Petersburg are gradually involved in the process of collecting and systematizing the acquired icons. They assist him in creating exhibits and organizing exhibitions.
Talking about his passion, in a series of interviews Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov says that he is confident in the spiritual power of the images of saints. He believes that the icons have had and are affecting the historical path of Russia.
Abramov acquires them all over the world, entering into negotiations with the owners of private collections, participating in auctions abroad. All acquired icons are forwarded to Russia. Mikhail Yuryevich is confident that the process of returning them to their homeland is his fateful mission.
Museum
In 2006, Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov came to the conclusion that the collected icons should be shown to people. He creates a private museum.
The Museum of the Russian Icon of Mikhail Abramov is located in the center of Moscow, next to the Taganskaya metro station (the arrow of the Moscow River and the Yauza River).
Currently, museum exhibits number almost 5, 000 units, of which about 1, 000 icons. There is a museum exclusively at the expense of the founder, Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov.
The museum does not carry out any commercial activities. Visiting it, tours in it are free.
The basis of the museum collection is Russian icons of the XIV - XX centuries. The museum also has collections of hand-written books, unique decorative and applied products. Thematic expositions devoted to late antique and early Christian monuments are presented; Byzantine arts and crafts; Greek icon painting; Christian Ethiopian art.
Businessman
According to official data obtained from the media, it follows that Mikhail Yuryevich Abramov is the founder of companies in the city of Moscow, namely, Art Alliance AK LLC, Museum of the Russian Icon, Bonorg LLC, Persvet Info LLC, LLC "Vilend".
He is also the owner of the construction company Plaza Development.
Currently, this structure carries out work on the commissioning of a number of structures in Moscow. Among them are the Sirius Park business center (near the Nagatinskaya metro station), the building of the Vereiskaya Plaza business district.
At the end of 2018, information appeared that the Moscow City Hall had filed a claim with Plaza Development in connection with the illegal construction of the West Park business center (Ochakovskoye Shosse). From the published information it follows that the developer carried out the construction illegally, without obtaining the relevant permits. West Park authorities in Moscow intend to judicially declare self-restraint and carry out its demolition.
