Nikolai Mukhin, the artist who decorated the Temple of Saint Sava, presented with a medal

Nikolai Mukhin, Aleksandar Vucic / Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic

President Aleksandar Vucic today presented the Order of the Serbian Flag of the First Degree to Russian artist Nikolai Mukhin, for his work to decorate the Temple of Saint Sava with a mosaic and for special merits in developing relations between Serbia and Russia.

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The president signed the decision to award the decoration to Mukhin on Armistice Day, November 11, and presented him with the medal today in a ceremony held at the Serbian Presidency, in accordance with all epidemiological measures.

Vucic expressed great gratitude to Mukhin for everything he has done for Serbia.

"Usually when politicians talk about it, they either exaggerate, or do it for themselves. You have done something for our country that I have not seen anywhere in the world, that leaves a mark of your work, your hands. People admire the beauty of our temple not even knowing how much effort, discipline and work was needed to achieve that beauty," said Vucic.

Vucic also said that he traveled half the world, but had never seen the interior of a temple done and arranged in such a way.

"Only you, with your dedication and discipline, could succeed in that, but you also added your love of Serbia, which you love the most right after Russia. I am very grateful to you for that. By receiving this order, you have one more obligation, and that is, since you now have your first homeland, Russia, and another, Serbia, to care for us, and we will always remain grateful to you," the president told the Russian academic.

Vucic recalled that Muhkin had the opportunity to do most of the work during the time of the late Patriarch Irinej, a man who, he pointed out, had a vision, who was an "ordinary, good Serb" and who cared about the Serbian people and what he would leave behind.

"Thanks to the two of you, we have a magnificent temple, but also the best relations between Serbia and Russia. I believe they can only get better in the future. I, who do not go to church every day, for which Bishop Stefan would criticize me, and the patriarch would also say that I should go more often, come to the church of Saint Sava, stop and watch and I don't want to leave. This is our new Hagia Sophia of the entire Orthodox world," the president of Serbia stressed.

Vucic said that Muhkin deserved even more gratitude from the Serbian people and the state, adding that this recognition is a small way to say that we will never forget his work and what he has done for the Serbian people.

Mukhin is a member of the Russian Academy of Arts and was the head of the project to decorate the interior of the Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade. He gained worldwide recognition by working on frescoes in the Temple of Christ the Savior in Moscow, for which he was decorated by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko and Serbian President's Secretary General Nikola Selakovic also attended the presentation of the medal.

(Telegraf.rs)