Moscow is reviving medieval myths about a holy war through church relics
The Tretyakov Gallery has transferred two unique 12th- and 14th-century relics—the icons “Our Lady of Vladimir” and “Our Lady of the Don”—to the Russian Orthodox Church for use free of charge.
These relics hold not only artistic but also ideological significance, as historically, Russian rulers would pray before them for assistance during military campaigns.
According to an official statement from the gallery, the icons have been transferred to the church for a period of 49 years. They were delivered today to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where they will be displayed for public viewing.
Museum officials claim that experts will have access to the relics to monitor their condition, but the experience of previous transfers raises serious concerns about the preservation of the artifacts.
It is worth noting that in 2023, after the famous “Trinity” icon by Andrei Rublev was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, it sustained significant damage.
After being kept in the church, it had to be urgently sent for restoration due to failure to maintain proper temperature and humidity conditions.
Experts note that even modern display cases cannot fully replicate museum conditions for such ancient artifacts.
The choice of these particular icons to be transferred to the church in the midst of the war against Ukraine is no coincidence.
The “Vladimir Mother of God” is considered the chief “patroness of Moscow,” who has been used since the times of Andrei Bogolyubsky and Ivan the Terrible as an ideological symbol of victory over external enemies.
This image is closely linked to the mythology of “defending the Fatherland,” which Russian propaganda is now actively exploiting.
Religious scholars note that such a move is a sign of the radical desecularization of Russian society. Religious images are demonstratively returning to the political sphere to shape a new mythology and justify aggression.
“In the context of war, the transfer of these very icons is a sign that religion dictates meanings and becomes part of state military policy,” experts emphasize.
Recall that Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is accompanied everywhere by his mistress—an investigation.
Earlier, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church publicly stated that Russians fighting against Ukraine allegedly do not violate the biblical commandment “Thou shalt not kill.”
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, who is under sanctions, stated that in 1943, “an entirely new era of Orthodoxy” began. He called Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and his successor Vladimir Putin “a miracle of God.”
