Belarus President and Russia President visit Valaam Monastery of Transfiguration of Savior

President of Belarus and President of Russia visited the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin toured the monastery’s grounds and visited the main temple of the monastery. There they approached the relics of Sergius and Herman, the founders of the Valaam Monastery, and lit candles near the icon of the Mother of God of Valaam. After that the heads of state toured the All Saints hermitage, the church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, and visited the chapel consecrated in honor of the family of Tsar Nikolai II. The heads of state also visited Svetly Island. After that they went to see the Saint Vladimir hermitage where they were made familiar with the exposition of the monastery’s museum. And on their way fr om Valaam to St. Petersburg, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin visited the Konevsky Monastery, wh ere they worshipped the relics of St. Arseny Konevsky.