Customs service lends confiscated Russian icons to Orthodox Church
A collection of 17 religious icons got a good home on Monday when Minister of Administrative and Municipal Affairs Mari Kiviniemi (Centre) and Tapani Erling, the Director-General of the National Board of Customs presented the paintings to the Helsinki Orthodox Diocese.
Although they are being cared for by the Orthodox Church, the icons remain property of the Finnish state.
“Miracles are linked with icons. We wanted the icons, and here they are. It was providence”, said Metropolitan Ambrosius at the presentation event. In the autumn of 2007 he had asked if the customs service happens to have icons in its possession.
Ambrosius was also pleased with the good condition of the icons, which are painted on coniferous wood. He said that the icons need to be cleaned. He estimates that the oldest of them could date back to the 17th century, but that most of them were painted in the 19th century.
The icons come from Russia, and were brought to Finland by smugglers. They were confiscated in 1994. Kiviniemi noted that the spiritual nature of the icons meant that selling them on auction would not be possible.
The icons will be kept on display at the Sofia Cultural Centre of the Helsinki Orthodox Diocese.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 17.6.2008 - TODAY |
 Customs service lends confiscated Russian icons to Orthodox Church |
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