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Andrey Rublev’s ‘Holy Trinity’ icon may disintegrate upon changing hands — museum director

On May 15, it was reported that Andrey Rublev’s "Holy Trinity" icon would be returned to the custody of the ROC by order of President Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, May 17. /TASS/. The return of Andrey Rublev’s celebrated "Holy Trinity" icon to the custody of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) from its current home at Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery could be fraught with the risk of altogether losing the masterpiece, which has important cultural significance, Yelizaveta Likhacheva, director of Moscow’s Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, told TASS.

"It could simply be lost; it could disintegrate into several pieces: It consists of three plates that are not very securely attached to each other. <…> This icon has never been considered to be one that produced miracles. The ‘Holy Trinity’ icon is Russia’s main contribution to Christian iconography, [and the main thing about it] is not its religious significance, but its importance for the field of art history," she said.

The Moscow Patriarchate reported on its website on May 15 that Andrey Rublev’s "Holy Trinity" icon would be returned to the custody of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) by order of President Vladimir Putin. On May 16, the Russian Ministry of Culture’s press service confirmed that the celebrated 15th century icon would be put on display at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior on Orthodox Pentecost Sunday, which falls on June 4 this year. After that, it will be restored and returned to its traditional place as the centerpiece of the iconostasis (wall of icons in an Eastern Orthodox church) in the Trinity Cathedral at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius monastery in the town of Sergiev Posad, 70 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Earlier, Marina Loshak, former director of the Pushkin Museum, recalled to a TASS correspondent that the icon had had to undergo a six-month restoration process following the last occasion it was removed from the Tretyakov Gallery on temporary loan to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius monastery. She expressed hope that careful measures would be taken to preserve the icon should it be transferred on a long-term basis.

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Japanese activities may trigger new arms race in region — ambassador

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South Korean arms supplies to Kiev unable to change course of special operation — expert

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Russian diplomat calls US out for 'double standards' in weapons policy

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Hamas says Israel handed over 80 bodies of dead Palestinians

The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the information

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Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that the era of the United States and its allies’ hegemony is over

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US top diplomat Blinken tells G7 that Iran, Hezbollah may attack Israel in next 24 hours

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US planning to fabricate another doping scandal against Russian athletes — SVR

The most powerful "blow" will be dealt to rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming and figure skating, the statement said

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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Arabs remove Hezbollah from list of terrorist organizations — senior Arab League official

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Russia creates doomsday FPV drone for use in event of nuclear attacks — UAV developer

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MEPs push for suspending Hungary from Schengen over visa policy for Russians — Politico

Czech MEP Danuse Nerudova and Lithuania’s Petras Auatrevicius pointed to Budapest’s decision that they insisted "could represent a loophole and potentially jeopardize the overall functioning of the Schengen area and its role as a secure space for citizens"

YouTube stops playing videos in almost all web browsers in Russia

High quality videos are still being played in the Yandex browser and in the Safari desktop version

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Maria Zakharova also pointed to even more "mind-boggling" facts that Crooks had scoured the Internet before the event for information about the distance that separated Lee Harvey Oswald and John F. Kennedy, and that he had his own drones that he launched the day before the rally in Pennsylvania

Ex-US intel officer Ritter says his passport was seized to hamper anti-Russophobia

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S&P 500 stock index falls by 3% for the first time since September 2022

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Russia may deploy nuclear missiles in response to Western actions — senior diplomat

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Venezuelan President Maduro vows to stop using WhatsApp, switch to Telegram

Nicolas Maduro said that "WhatsApp is being used to threaten Venezuela"

Russian border guards prevent Ukrainian infiltration in Kursk Region — acting governor

Alexey Smirnov advised social media users to disregard potential bogus stories alleging enemy infiltration into the borderline Russian region

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Turkey to file application with ICJ to join suit against Israel

Hakan Fidan accused Israel of seeking to proliferate the Gaza conflict across the entire region

Israeli military announces liquidation of commander in Hezbollah’s elite unit

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Ka-52 helicopter crew hit Ukrainian stronghold in Battlegroup North's responsibility zone

All targets were hit by S-8 unguided air missiles and Vikhr guided air missiles

Haniyeh's assassination shows there will be no ceasefire in Gaza under Netanyahu — Hersh

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Bangladeshi MP’s residence looted by protesters after she resigned and left country

People got out of the building with furniture, personal belongings, domestic birds and pets

Russian troops take out two Leopard tanks near Kharkov

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Mexico demands that Ecuador release former Vice President Glas

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Russian MFA advises US special services to 'patch up security holes'

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US plans for missiles in Germany unable to change Russia’s stance — ambassador

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