Many countries, cultures, or civilizations have their own special, singular, and unique image, as if a "face”, which suddenly reveals to its viewer the deep spiritual meaning, the inner background, and the essential primary core of the country, culture, or civilization. These can be architectural masterpieces, paintings, works of literature, and works of art. Italy brings to mind the slightly arrogant and enigmatic smile of the Renaissance Mona Lisa, France reminds us of the Gothic cluster of Notre Dame de Paris, Germany refers us to the music of Bach. For Russia, however, its true "face," its image, its symbol, linking us to its very spiritual essence, is of course the icon of the Holy Trinity by St. Andrey Rublev.
In St. Andrey's Trinity we discover the artistic greatness of the humble Russian icon-painter enlightened by the Holy Spirit. And it is the language of the icon that has always been for Russia the main language of its theological creativity. One also sees in the Trinity Icon the highest degree of the ascetic endeavor that came to Russia from the same Byzantium that once spiritually revived us through the preaching of Orthodoxy, and which then was continually and indissolubly linked to us in prayer. It is the most beautiful call for unity in the history of spiritual and artistic creation, including the political unity of the once fragmented Rus'.
Revealed in the colors of the icon was this perfect ideal of the unity of will and love of the Three Divine Persons. And it was this ideal that inspired the gatherers of our Fatherland to create the great Russian state. It is the most convincing and effective preaching of the truth of Christianity; it is not for nothing that one of the Russian religious thinkers of the twentieth century once said: "If the Trinity of St. Andrey Rublev exists, then God exists.” But most importantly, this icon reveals the true essence and the deep mystery of the Russian Orthodox faith as the faith in the sacrificial, life-giving, and all-embracing love of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because it depicts the Triune in Council of the coming Incarnation of God for the sake of the salvation of the human race.