Rublev’s ‘Trinity’ Icon Removed From Display After Climate Control Failure – RBC

The Trinity icon, painted by Andrei Rublev between 1422 and 1427, has been temporarily removed from its position on the iconostasis at Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. This action, reported by RBC, was necessary for specialists to inspect the climate chamber that safeguards the iconic religious artifact. According to the sources, there is a possibility that the chamber may require repairs.

The icon was previously stored at the Tretyakov Gallery before being transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2023 by Vladimir Putin. It is currently housed at the lavra but not in the iconostasis, the sources confirm. Despite some rumors, the condition of the Trinity icon is not considered a cause for concern. However, the icon's climate chamber is broken and currently, it is being kept in conditions of 80% humidity, which is higher than the recommended range of 50-55% humidity.

The leadership of Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius was reportedly concerned about informing the Tretyakov Gallery about the icon's poor condition, but a recent Moscow Patriarchate statement confirmed that a "scheduled verification of the icon's state of preservation" is currently underway.