Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a visit to the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam Monastery of St. Sergius and Herman on Valaam Island. Photo: Alexander Kazakov/TASS
On Thursday, July 25, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko arrived on the island of Valaam. The heads of state were dressed in an unusual way: casually. They did not wear the usual jackets and ties.
However, the atmosphere, as always in St. Valaam, was special and solemn from the first minutes.
Putin and Lukashenko visited the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. A prayer service was held there. After that there was the Romanovsky Monastery. Dmitry Peskov spoke about this.
Of course, the presidents had important negotiations. According to news agencies, “they planned to discuss current issues in the development of bilateral relations, the promotion of trade union projects, regional security issues and the international agenda.”
BY THE WAY
Vladimir Putin often visits Valaam.
Exactly one year ago, in July 2023, the Russian President also came here together with his Belarusian colleague.
They then examined the Transfiguration Cathedral and visited the tomb of Archimandrite Methodius, who played an important role in the revival of the Valaam Monastery.
We also visited the local monastery, in honour of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. There they pray daily “for the deceased soldiers who gave their lives for their faith and their homeland.”
