Patriarch Kirill interrupted the Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in the early hours of April 12 to thank Vladimir Putin for transferring two icons from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Russian Orthodox Church, the independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo reported.
The transfer would enter “not only the history of the country and the history of the Church, but deeply into the history of our people,” the Patriarch said.
Putin, who was present at the service, responded with a bow and then left.
The Vladimir Mother of God icon dates to the first third of the 12th century; the Don Mother of God icon dates to the late 14th century. The Tretyakov Gallery transferred them to the Russian Orthodox Church earlier in April, and the icons were put on display at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Patriarch Kirill said the transfer was carried out on Putin’s orders.
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