(Reuters) - A revered religious painting that has just been transferred on President Vladimir Putin's orders from a museum to the Russian Orthodox Church needs a year of restoration and remains state property, the culture minister was quoted as saying on Friday.
Putin, who has found a willing ally in the Church for his vision of a conservative national identity, three weeks ago said through his spokesman that the "Trinity" icon was being transferred because "hiding it in a museum" did not fulfil the desire of believers.
