Vladimir Putin Meets with Abp. Alexei of Alaska
The Russian president presented the Archbishop of Alaska with two icons: one of St. Herman of Alaska and one of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
SITKA — Following his historic summit with Donald Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin also met with Abp. Alexei of Sitka and All Alaska.
Putin extended greetings on behalf of Pat. Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia. Putin said that he had visited Kyrill shortly before his visit to the United States, and that the Patriarch had explained to Putin the history of Orthodoxy in Alaska.
Putin then presented Abp. Alexei with two icons: one of St. Herman of Alaska and one of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Putin and Abp. Alexei then venerated the icons together.
Before departing from Alaska, Putin also visited the graves of Soviet pilots who died during World War II while training in Alaska. He made the Sign of the Cross, knelt down, and laid flowers at each of the graves.
