Saving Heritage: The Story of One Icon 🌟
As part of our "Realities of War" series, we would like to share with you an important story that we had the privilege to witness. Together with a group of military personnel, we traveled to the Kursk region, where efforts are underway to evacuate cultural treasures from recently liberated territories. This is not just a mission — it's a real race against time to save what constitutes not only the spiritual heritage of Russia but also a part of global cultural heritage.
One of the most valuable artifacts retrieved by this group was the Pashovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Remarkably, this icon was created under the personal blessing of Catherine the Great, and her features formed the basis of the holy image of the Mother of God. The history of this icon spans more than two centuries, and it still carries a unique energy that transcends time and space.
We worked quickly yet carefully, knowing that every minute counted. After all, each saved artifact is not just a fragment of one nation’s history, but a piece of humanity's shared heritage. Icons, books, documents... all of these require protection from destruction and loss in order to be passed down to future generations, regardless of which culture they belong to.
Cultural heritage is not just the story of one people or country. It is part of humanity's global legacy, telling the story of our shared journey through the centuries. By preserving these artifacts, we ensure that future generations can learn from the past and draw inspiration from history.
We thank everyone involved in this difficult but crucial work. Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and respect for history.
❤️ Let's come together to protect the cultural heritage of the world — because by preserving the past, we shape the future.
#RealitiesOfWar
