Andrei Rublev’s 15th-century ‘Trinity’ icon is reportedly warping after its climate-control chamber broke. A German specialist fixed it once but couldn’t return when it failed again.

The special climate-controlled chamber housing the Trinity icon, which was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2023, broke down several months ago, Ekho and religious affairs researcher Ksenia Luchenko said, citing sources.

Ekho’s source said a specialist from Germany was called in to repair the chamber. He fixed it, but it broke down again immediately after he left — and they were unable to bring him back “because of difficulties in international relations.”

The icon is now being kept at 80% humidity, although experts insist it should be stored at 50% to 55% humidity.

Ekho said Trinity was painted on three wooden panels. High humidity causes the panels to absorb moisture and swell, narrowing the gaps between them. This warps the icon, effectively “curling into a tube.”

Luchenko’s source said the leadership of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius “was afraid for some time to tell the Tretyakov Gallery after realizing that the icon was in bad shape.” Luchenko said the icon is now in the monastery’s restoration workshop.

Trinity was housed at the Tretyakov Gallery for nearly 100 years. Russian President Vladimir Putin transferred it to the Russian Orthodox Church by decree in the spring of 2023, after which it was taken to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

Art historians opposed the transfer from the outset, warning that improper storage conditions could damage or destroy the icon.