The last victim: the tragedy of Archpriest Kalinin, who dared to voice his opinion about the fate of Rublev’s “Trinity”

Although it was precisely “according to the aspirations of believers”, their numerous requirements, as Dmitry Peskov confirmed, the masterpiece was withdrawn from the Tretyakov Gallery.

The relocation of the shrine, by the way, is provided by the Ministry of Culture. If something happens – demand from them, so I do not envy them.

Officials swear by oath that in two weeks “Trinity” will go to the restoration, which is in dire need.

Apparently, they are not entirely aware that His Holiness the Patriarch announced that the icon will hang in the XXC for a year, and then it will be transported to Sergiev Posad, to the Lavra. As those who favor such an outcome are sure, forever. But, believe me, this is not the end of the whole story.

The story of Rublev’s “Trinity” personally reminds me of the parable of King Solomon, the baby and two mothers. As you know, each considered the child their own. Only one at any cost wanted to get it for herself – even if the baby was torn apart.

Do we know what believers really want? After all, no one held a referendum to clarify this issue. How many of them are “in the know”, how many over the past year have been constantly thinking about the “Trinity”, which had previously been taken to the Lavra, after which 61 negative changes were discovered, which as a result, and this is the opinion of specialists, can lead to an irreparable disaster and even the death of a masterpiece?

Why do I trust museum workers? Because a hundred years ago, it was they who found the “Trinity” and saved her. Over the centuries, while it hung in the temple before, it fell into a deplorable state. In the end, no one canceled the laws of the material world. No matter how much the powers that be would not like it.

Today, other scientists have already found the strength and courage to voice their position publicly and insist on it at a time when they should be silent.

Who knows how it will backfire on them?

Although there is already an example. Father Leonid Kalinin, recently banned from serving, a permanent member of the Supreme Church Council, a member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, who at one time was responsible for the decoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, treated kindly by the authorities, who had a temple in the very center of Moscow – ironically, it was on the Tretyakov Gallery, dared to express his opinion as a professional and lost everything.

But I read the protocol of his speech, there is no trace of strife there, Kalinin simply explained that there was no capsule that ensured the safety of the masterpiece last year when it was moved to the Lavra – there was a specialized showcase that, outside the museum climate, could not to fully ensure the safety of Rublev’s masterpiece. That’s all he said. But even this little was enough.

Perhaps now he already regrets what he did … Otherwise, rumors about his stroke would not have appeared … Although what is there to regret?

Christ was crucified for daring to say that the best state is not where Caesar rules. And then they just deprived the temple at the Tretyakov Gallery.

Today, the authorities and the church have “a complete symphony – the consonance is more complete than in Byzantine times,” as Father Andrei Kuraev, who was recently completely defrocked for his views, put it in an interview with MK.

These two are somewhat similar. Kuraev and Kalinin. Only the first always says what he thinks. And the other – like a mirror, reflects what is really happening in the church. This is an amazing quality. Father Leonid is so ambiguous, ambivalent, but, most incredible of all, he most likely does not see this himself.

Yes, in our time, even such a timid single voice is considered protest. Especially if a person dared to pronounce it, flesh from the flesh belonging to the system.

Knowing a little about Leonid’s father, of course, I’m not sure that he did it deliberately.

During my journalistic career, I did two interviews with Leonid Kalinin (for one of them I even received an All-Russian award – for “the best interview of the year”), and each time the publication ended in a loud and crushing scandal, and Leonid’s father was scolded by high authorities.

When he gave interviews, he always closed his eyes, as if he were sleeping. So he spoke with his eyes closed. Like blind. And each time he himself personally believed that he had not said anything so seditious. Well, I didn’t see it – my eyes were closed.

Perhaps one day he will still be grateful for what happened to him now.

By the way, Father Leonid has been responsible for the preservation of historical monuments in Syria of the biblical era for several decades. This is a public position, and it is unlikely that he will not lose it even now.

Here, in the Seidnaya Monastery, the only lifetime portrait of the Virgin is kept. It was drawn by the Evangelist Luke. It is considered the first icon in the world. I lived in this place for a while.

It is not displayed publicly. Moreover, it is not shown to anyone at all. Two thousand years, no joke.

The icon is located in a completely impenetrable silver casket behind a metal niche, in a small chapel at the monastery. She is not moved anywhere and is not touched at all. It’s empty, quiet, dark. Not even the lamps are lit.

It’s been two thousand years now. Well, of course, there are her replicas and copies of the image – for believers, this is enough.

To know that the icon exists, lives, that everything is fine with it …

After all, the main thing is not the bowing crowd at the iconostasis, but what is in the heart.