MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin returned Sunday a long-lost icon of Our Lady of Vladimir to Russia's Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II ahead of the Easter service in Moscow, vowing to bring back other relics lost in the Soviet times.
"Let me hand over to you one of the spiritual relics now returned to Russia, the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir," Putin said in televised comments, voicing regret that "many valuables were taken abroad in 1920s, 1930s and later and many of them lost."
"But we will determinedly, bit by bit gather all that can yet be saved and returned to Russia, we will help the Russian Orthodox Church to restore churches and monasteries," the president said.
Alexy II in his turn thanked Putin for the return of "the miraculous, much prayed-for icon."
Putin and Alexy also exchanged Easter eggs and wished each other well on the holiday.
Though Russia is a secular state, Putin has declared himself a believer and has been assiduous in observing the religious calendar.
Other officials, including Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, were also present at the Easter service.
04/07/2007 22:16 GMT