Revered icon just handed to Russian Church by Putin remains state property - minister

FILE PHOTO: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia leads a Holy Trinity service with the Trinity icon, Andrei Rublev's 15th century artwork, in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia June 4, 2023. Oleg Varov/Moscow Patriarchate Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

(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.