The Tretyakov Gallery is coordinating a formal document that will spell out in detail how Rublev’s Trinity ikon will be handled within the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This development was reported by mk.ru as part of ongoing discussions about the icon’s status and use.
Under a previously signed agreement between Patriarch Kirill and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, the icon will be made available for free use at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The State Tretyakov Gallery press service clarified that the ikon remains listed in the museum inventory, indicating continued custodianship by the Tretyakov Gallery even as it is set to be used at another site.
Presently Elena Pronicheva, the director of the Tretyakov Gallery, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, is preparing a comprehensive document that will govern the long term care and management of the ikon. This forthcoming contract will describe in precise terms how the ikon should be observed, restored, and maintained, and will outline how Tretyakov specialists may access the Trinity-Sergius complex to monitor the condition of the artwork over time.
According to the gallery, Tretyakov curators are already visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior twice daily to assess the ikon. The plan is to have the ikon remain on display through July 19, during which time monitoring of its condition will continue to ensure its safety and integrity in the new setting.
In addition, the Tretyakov Gallery noted that the Trinity ikon is slated to move to the Grabar Restoration Center by mid July at the latest. A separate agreement will be crafted between the museum and the restoration team to govern this transfer and the restoration process itself, ensuring clear responsibilities and timelines for all parties involved.
Known as Trinity XV, the ikon originated in the early 20th century and was transferred to the Tretyakov Gallery in 1929. On May 15, 2023, a ceremonial handover of the ikon from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Russian Orthodox Church highlighted the shifting custodianship and shared cultural stewardship of this important work of art.
Earlier comments from Patriarch Kirill had touched on the broader context of temple ownership and the implications of freely allowing the Trinity ikon to be used at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. These remarks followed a period marked by discussions about access, protection, and the responsibilities that accompany the public display and use of sacred imagery in prominent religious sites.
Meanwhile, regional authorities in Ukraine have been mentioned in discussions about other historic sites, such as plans involving Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, underscoring how major religious and cultural treasures intersect with broader geopolitical questions and policy decisions across the region.