- By Steve Rosenberg
- Russia Editor, Moscow
The Holy Trinity painting is now on screen at a cathedral in Moscow, in spite of its age and delicate state
In Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour echoes to Orthodox chants and prayers. It’s loaded with worshippers on among the terrific banquets of Orthodoxy: Pentecost.
But numerous have actually come here to see a work of art that’s been placed on screen. A 600-year-old Orthodox icon – among Russia’s most valuable – thought to have actually been painted by the middle ages artist Andrei Rublev. It’s called The Holy Trinity.
For a century, this delicate painting has actually remained in a state museum, Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. Temperature and humidity controls, together with groups of conservators, have actually assisted to secure and protect this masterpiece.
But the Kremlin just recently bought that the icon be moved to the Russian Orthodox Church. The head of the Church, Patriarch Kirill, is thrilled.
“This icon go back to the Church at a time when our Fatherland is challenging huge opponent forces,” he informed worshippers at the weekend. “It returns so that we can ask God to help our nation and wish our Orthodox president Vladimir Putin, whose choice it was to restore the icon.”
The Patriarch might be pleased. But the icon’s transfer has actually triggered debate.
One of Russia’s most distinguished art historians accepts satisfy to explain why. Lev Lifshits became part of a group of specialists that encouraged versus moving the icon from the Tretyakov Gallery, alerting that the transfer might lead to significant damage.
“This choice was somebody’s personal impulse,” Lev discusses. “The [Tretyakov Gallery’s] Restoration Council was unconditionally versus this.
“While the icon remained in the museum, with a group of conservators, it resembled an individual in extensive care. It was being kept an eye on round the clock and by the most contemporary equipment.
“This is a political choice. Those in power here are aiming to the paradises and expecting help from above.”
Or, at least, help from the Church to sustain public assistance for Russia’s major intrusion of Ukraine and for Russia’s president. Patriarch Kirill openly backs what the Kremlin still calls the “unique military operation.” He has actually formerly declared that any Russian soldiers killed will have their sins “removed.”
What’s more, the Russian Patriarch has actually recommended that President Putin’s reign over Russia had actually been mandated by God.
“God put you in power so that you might carry out a service of unique significance and of terrific duty for the fate of the nation and individuals delegated to your care,” Patriarch Kirill said last October.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is a singing advocate of Russia’s major intrusion of Ukraine
In that notice, returning the Holy Trinity icon might be analyzed as a benefit for the Church’s commitment.
But that might be just part of the story.
“The Church is a really essential aspect of his personal ideology,” thinks Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “The inner circle of Putin, and Putin himself, they have an ideology: it is clerical, anti-Western and imperialistic. What is the basis of this ideology? Not Marxism-Leninism as in a previous duration of Russian history, however faith.
“He’s a spiritual man. But it’s not about Christianity as such, with genuine Christian worths, since cruelty – this is not Christian worths. In that sense Putin is a fan of a really particular sort of faith.”
Outside Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, worshippers are queuing to see the Holy Trinity icon. Some here are expecting wonders.
“It’s hard now with the unique military operation,” Valentina informs me. “We are wishing triumph.”
“Any reasonable individual will hope the dispute ends quickly,” says Antonina. “I believe God will help.”
In Russia the Orthodox Church frequently paints the war in Ukraine as a “holy war.”
To make Russians think that God is on their side. And to make them forget that it was their nation that got into Ukraine.
