Visit to St Alexander Nevsky Lavra

During a visit to the St Alexander Nevski Lavra, the President and the Patriarch laid flowers at the grave of the famous Russian military leader
Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800).
Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill also had a brief conversation in the Cathedral of the Annunciation.
The St Alexander Nevsky Lavra was the first and largest monastery in St Petersburg, founded in 1713 by the order of Peter the Great.
In 1723, the Emperor decided to transfer the relics of Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St Petersburg. The reliquary remained
in Shlisselburg for a year, until on September 12, 1724, it was solemnly
installed in the Annunciation Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Peter the Great personally participated in the transfer of the relics. Since then, the Faithful
Saint Prince Alexander has been revered as the heavenly patron of the city.
After October 1917, the monastery was closed, and its premises housed several state institutions. Services in the Holy Trinity
Cathedral did not resume until 1957. In 1990, the monastery complex was
included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and its buildings were transferred
to the Russian Orthodox Church.
In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Culture, the silver reliquary of St Alexander Nevsky was transferred to the Lavra
and relocated from State Hermitage to the Annunciation Church. Upon completion
of repairs and restoration works, the entire etomb will be moved to the Holy
Trinity Cathedral, to the exact place where the relics were held in the 19th
century.
* * *
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia : In memory of this event [the transfer of Alexander Nevsky’s relics from Vladimir to St Petersburg], I would
like to present you with an icon of this saint, the patron saint of the city
that is dear to you and me.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Patriarch Kirill: So that he would protect you as a warrior, empower
you, especially in cases when you need to use force to protect Russia and our
Fatherland from all evil.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much for this icon and for everything
you are doing for the Russian people and for other peoples of the country – strengthening
our faith and our fundamental values.
Interestingly, the first monastery which Peter
the Great founded in a new place – on the site of the future capital, was
dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. It was done for a reason.
Patriarch Kirill: Indeed.
Vladimir Putin: So he is the guardian of the Russian
statehood and, in fact, the saviour of the Russian ethnos without any
exaggeration. And the deeds by Alexander Nevsky and Peter the Great and their feats
resonated across the time.
Patriarch Kirill: Yes, absolutely. And it’s amazing: Alexander
Nevsky did not fight with the Khans because the Khans needed our money and gave
a powerful rebuff to the Teutons because they wanted our souls; he sorted out
very smartly these enemies and adversaries.
Vladimir Putin: Absolutely. And such relations that he established
with the Horde, created conditions for the preservation of Russian identity.
That was the most important thing.
Patriarch Kirill: To build up strength.
Thank you, Mr President.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.