In Russia, Digital Tech Is Bringing History to Life
Parents at a school in Astrakhan are using artificial intelligence to create an interactive museum that blends tradition with innovation.
At the Astrakhan Orthodox Gymnasium named after St. Joseph and benefactor Vera Zhilkina, parents are building a digital museum called “The House with History.” The project, organized entirely by the school’s parent committee, won a grant of 1.6 million rubles from the Russian Society “Znanie.” From design to construction, everything is being done by volunteers.
The museum will feature four themed exhibits — Church History, Spiritual Traditions in Painting, Spiritual Traditions in Music, and Heroic Feats of the Fatherland. Each exhibit uses modern technology, including interactive displays and AI-powered elements that “bring history to life,” allowing students to explore Russia’s spiritual and cultural heritage in new, immersive ways.
Interactive Museums Are Becoming a Trend
Across Russia, parents are taking a more active role in creating educational projects. In the Voronezh and Tyumen regions, for instance, new school multimedia museums have been built with grant funding and community support. In Kostroma, the “Living History” initiative launched digital exhibits focused on Russian culture.
Local governments are also backing the movement: 26 regions have opened large-scale interactive museum parks under the banner “Russia — My History.”
The Astrakhan project shows how collaboration between teachers, parents, and civic groups can fuse spiritual education with digital innovation, turning traditional learning spaces into engaging cultural experiences.
