Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has presented the Christ the Pantocrator icon to father superior Nikon of the Holy Dormition Hermitage of Sarov. "I would like to pass along this icon to the church. This is from the first half of the 19th century, the icon is from the storerooms," Vladimir Putin told the priest. Before handing over the icon, he took it out of a green velvet case and kissed it.

Father superior, in his turn, presented the prime minister with an icon of St Seraphim of Sarov, the patron saint of the monastery. He expressed regret that the prime minister was not able to visit the monastery during this visit to Sarov.

"I will come again," the prime minister promised.