Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, to commemorate the day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, evangelisers of the Slavs, in Moscow on May 24, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP)
MOSCOW 鈥� For nearly a century, visitors came to Moscow鈥檚 Tretyakov Gallery to admire the perfect harmony of Russia鈥檚 most famous icon: the 鈥淭rinity鈥�, painted by Andrei Rublev in the Middle Ages.
The almost 600-year-old artwork depicting three angels is one of the most recognizable Russian masterpieces in the world.
Last month, however, President Vladimir Putin handed over the historic icon to the Russian Orthodox Church, the latest sign of the tightening alliance between the Kremlin and religious leaders.
The handover has sparked an outcry from restorers and art historians, who warn the extremely fragile mediaeval icon might not survive outside the Tretyakov Gallery鈥檚 walls.
It comes as Russia鈥檚 offensive in Ukraine stretches into its second year, with Patriarch Kirill throwing his support behind the assault and saying that dying in Ukraine 鈥渨ashes away all sins鈥�.
Lev Lifshits, one of the country鈥檚 leading art historians, warned that the 鈥淭rinity鈥� could be destroyed and said he believed the decision to give it to the church was political.
He compared its state to an ailing person.
鈥淚f you suddenly take a critically ill person out of an intensive care unit, what do you think would happen?鈥�
Some political observers say Putin鈥檚 move is a spiritual decision dictated by the difficult situation on the front line in Ukraine.
鈥淪till no victory,鈥� said political analyst Georgy Bovt. 鈥淎ll that remains is for Putin to ask God for help.鈥�
With Moscow鈥檚 military campaign in Ukraine stalling, Russian authorities have been increasingly willing to depict the offensive in religious terms.
The masterpiece was painted for what is now the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius located in the town of Sergiyev Posad outside Moscow.
After the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, the Soviet authorities transferred the artwork to the Tretyakov Gallery in 1929.
The church said the icon would be first exhibited at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow before returning to the historic monastery in Sergiyev Posad. Religious leaders insist they have every means at their disposal to preserve the precious icon.
It is the second transfer of a national treasure to the church in recent weeks.
The Saint Petersburg-based Hermitage Museum said another Russian monastery would receive the silver sarcophagus of Alexander Nevsky, a medieval prince and national hero.
Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky, who has lauded the Ukraine offensive, said it was the right move 鈥渁t this geopolitical time鈥�.
鈥淭oday, the sacred signficance of the monument is more important than its artistic value,鈥� he told reporters.
鈥楬elped Russian princes鈥�
In a sign the church will not tolerate dissent, Patriarch Kirill has fired and banned from the priesthood a cleric heading the Moscow Patriarchate鈥檚 expert council on church art, who said that the safety of the icon was paramount.
Speaking to AFP before his dismissal, Archpriest Leonid Kalinin said the icon鈥檚 鈥渞ightful place is where it was painted to be鈥�.
Standing in an ornate Moscow church, the cleric welcomed the fact that Putin, a former KGB spy, 鈥渢urns to shrines in difficult and fateful moments鈥�.
By giving the icon back to the church, Putin wants to 鈥渞eturn Russia to its core鈥�, he added.
Putin has sought to depict the offensive in Ukraine as a battle against the decadent West, and used religious symbols to rouse support.
The Kremlin said that during a rare visit to occupied southern Ukraine in April, the Russian president gave troops a copy of a historic icon.
Art historian Lifshits said the 鈥淭rinity鈥� had helped Russian rulers in difficult times.
鈥淐ontemplating Rublev鈥檚 鈥楾rinity鈥� helped Russian princes overcome feuds,鈥� he said.
Popular legend has it that Joseph Stalin, the ruthless dictator of the atheist Soviet Union, also sought divine help in the country鈥檚 epic battle against Nazi Germany.
According to one popular myth, in a bid to save Moscow from approaching German troops in 1941, a plane carrying an icon flew over the Russian capital. Two years later Stalin met religious leaders and blessed cooperation between the church and the Soviet government.
鈥楿njustified risks鈥�
Rublev鈥檚 most famous work has left the Tretyakov Gallery only a handful of times, including during World War II when it was evacuated to safety.
In 2022, the icon travelled back to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius for religious celebrations.
Art experts said the piece suffered significant damage when it was temporarily moved.
Lilia Yevseyeva, an art historian at the Museum of Russian Icons in Moscow, said that, if the icon leaves the Tretyakov Gallery for good, 鈥渇uture generations will not see it in its current state鈥�.
Following the public outcry, Putin鈥檚 spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the icon would be exhibited at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral, where experts will decide on its future restoration.
Art experts are adamant the piece should not leave the museum.
Even members of the Russian Academy of Sciences broke their silence, saying the icon cannot be moved, 鈥渆ven for a short period of time鈥�.
In an open letter to the culture minister they said only a museum could ensure the preservation of Rublev鈥檚 鈥淭rinity鈥�.
鈥淢asterpieces of Russian icon painting and national treasures should not be exposed to unjustified risks,鈥� the letter warned.