Putin returned to Greece stolen icon
The Russian side handed over to the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Spyridon, which was stolen by the Nazis from the monastery of Sparta. To return the relic to the rightful owners, the Russians patrons bought it from the descendants of the German officer.
With many private partners, Russia is eager to establish strong financial and political cooperation, but also cultural exchange. So, during the visit of Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras in Russian Federation Moscow returned the Greek delegation stolen by the Nazis icon.
"The Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras gave an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Spyridon, which was stolen during the occupation of the monastery of Sparta Nazi officer Friedrich-Wilhelm mц?ller", - quotes RIA Novosti source in the Greek government. Now, the relic will be able to return to their own rightful owners.
"This icon was taken by the Nazis from Greece, one of the Orthodox churches. Subsequently, the icon was in Nazi Germany... who brought the icon, was arrested in 1945 by the red army and issued by the Greek authorities. In 1947 he was shot in Greece for the atrocities that he created there", - said the press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.
He added that later, the icon was purchased by patrons from the descendants of the Nazis. "And thus the icon was back where she promised to be historically," said Sands. He stressed that the Russian President Vladimir Putin directly gave the relic to the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.
Friedrich-Wilhelm mц?ller - Nazi officer who stole the icon from Greek monastery - during the war, earned the nickname the Butcher of Crete. He has sanctioned the so-called massacre in Viannos, when in early September 1943, the German troops destroyed the inhabitants of almost 20 villages. In retaliation for their support of the guerrillas were killed over 500 people. In 1945 Mueller was arrested by the red army and handed over to Greek authorities. In 1947, he was executed in Crete.
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