Moscow, August 28, 2010
His
Holiness Patriarch Kirill defied driving driving rains
today to bless the icon of Jesus Christ, recently
restored over the main gate of the Moscow Kremlin. The
revered icon, which was placed in the "Tower of
the Savior" at the Kremlin in the seventeenth
century, was covered over in stucco during the soviet
regime, in the 1930's. It was considered
lost until last spring, when restoration work was
conducted at the tower. The blessing was intentionally
scheduled to coincide with the feast of the Dormition
(OS calender). The icon depicts the Savior with Sts.
Sergius of Radonezh and Varlaam of Khutyn kneeling in
prayer to Him.
President Dimitry Medvedev, who was also present at the
blessing, commended the restoration of the icon as an
encouragement toward national unity. The President said
that, "We should remember those who made this
possible during the period of godlessness, risking not
only their jobs, but also their lives to save this wonder
for future generations--for those who are here today on
Red Square, those who will come to the Kremlin, and be
inspired by the icon that protects the Kremlin, Moscow,
and all of us." He further stated that,
"Today's event contains great significance;
including the unity of the Church with the people."
29 августа 2010 г.
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