"Living testimony to the baptism of the Perm land": Butina wants to return a 14th-century icon to Komi
State Duma Deputy Maria Butina sent an official request to Vologda Oblast Governor Georgy Filimonov calling for the return of the "Holy Trinity of the Old Testament" icon to the Komi Republic. This historical relic, dating back to the late 14th century and containing inscriptions in the ancient Komi language, is currently housed in the Vologda Museum-Reserve. Experts attribute the deputy's increased activity to her participation in the upcoming State Duma elections representing the Komi Republic.
An ancient relic with inscriptions in the Old Komi language
State Duma Deputy Maria Butina appealed to Vologda Oblast Governor Georgy Filimonov to "restore historical justice" and return a unique piece of religious art—the "Holy Trinity of the Old Testament" icon—to the Komi Republic. According to the parliamentarian, this rarity is of colossal importance to the region from which it was removed over two centuries ago.
"This icon is not just an exhibit, but a living testimony to the baptism of the Perm land, a spiritual legacy that should be accessible to those for whom it was created," Butina emphasizes in her official statement.
The parliamentary inquiry specifically clarifies that the initiative has "profound historical, spiritual, and cultural significance." The icon, created in the late 14th century, is unique in that it contains authentic inscriptions in the ancient Komi language (Stefanovskaya script). This makes it not only a valuable work of medieval art but also a vital national relic of the Komi people.
How a Komi relic ended up in the Vologda Museum
Historically, the relic was located in the territory of what is now the Komi Republic. However, at the turn of the 18th and 9th centuries, Bishop Arseny of Vologda decided to move the icon to the Vologda Cathedral for its better preservation. During the Soviet era, the icon was confiscated from the church: in 1928, the authorities transferred the relic to the Vologda Museum-Reserve, where it remains in its collection to this day.
It's worth noting that the Komi Republic authorities have previously made multiple official attempts to return the valuable artifact to the region. However, the Vologda authorities have consistently rejected all previous requests from Syktyvkar. Vologda museum staff and restorers have traditionally cited the icon's exceptional value for their own collection, as well as its extremely fragile physical condition, which makes any long-distance transportation of the rarity technologically hazardous.
The pre-election context and new storage conditions in Syktyvkar
Maria Butina's current address is formally timed to coincide with a significant date: the 630th anniversary of the death of Saint Stephen of Perm, the enlightener of the Komi lands. The deputy assures the Vologda leadership that Komi has finally created all the necessary modern conditions for the safe storage of historical rarities of this caliber. The proposed site is the National Museum in Syktyvkar, which boasts high-tech climate control systems and a staff of qualified restorers.
At the same time, observers point to the obvious political context of the unfolding struggle for historical legacy. Maria Butina will officially head the United Russia party list in Komi for the upcoming State Duma elections. The party's regional branch in the republic previously set itself a strict goal: to guarantee two seats in the lower house of the Russian parliament, for which federal candidates are actively pursuing a high-profile local agenda.
