The Trinity icon, a renowned religious painting created in the early 15th century by the Russian artist Andrei Rublev, had been part of the Tretiakov Gallery's collection in Moscow since 1929. In May 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to return the icon to the Russian Orthodox Church, as reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant. The newspaper noted that in recent years, the Moscow Patriarchate, the highest authority in the Russian Orthodox Church, has made several claims about the return of religious artifacts, arguing that the Church lost much of its property during the Soviet era when religious institutions were often suppressed or nationalized. The transfer of the Trinity icon sparked controversy. Museum experts expressed concerns that the painting, an ancient and very fragile work of art, could deteriorate if moved from the controlled environment of a museum to other settings, according to the independent Russian news site Meduza. These concerns were not addressed publicly, and the icon was moved despite the warnings. In early 2024, the Trinity icon was installed in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, a prominent Orthodox church. From there, it was later sent to the Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra, an important Orthodox monastery located in Sergiyev Posad, a town about 70 kilometers northeast of Moscow. This monastery is one of the most significant religious and cultural centers in Russia, known for its historical and artistic heritage. The return of the icon reflects broader tensions between the Russian government and cultural institutions over the ownership of religious and historical artifacts. While the Church has long sought the return of items taken during the Soviet period, the move has raised questions about the preservation of cultural heritage and the role of the state in managing historical treasures.