On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of the relics of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg, on September 12, 2024, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin visited the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, reports Kremlin.ru .
The Head of State was accompanied by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Vladimir Putin and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the Annunciation Lavra Church. 
Russian grave in the lower church of the Annunciation Church, the President of Russia and the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church laid flowers on the grave of the great commander A.V. Suvorov. 
In the upper church, where the historical shrine with the relics of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky currently resides, the head of state and His Holiness venerated the holy relics. 
Then Vladimir Putin had a conversation with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the transcript of which is published on the website of the President of Russia. 
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: In memory of this event [the transfer of the relics of Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St. Petersburg], I would like to present you with the image of this saint, the patron saint of the city native to us.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: So that he may keep you as a warrior and strengthen you, especially in cases when it is necessary to protect Russia by force and from all the evil of our Fatherland.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much for this image and for everything you do for the Russian people, and for other peoples of the country — you strengthen our faith, our fundamental values. 
Curiously, the first monastery, which Peter the Great founded in a new place — on the site of the future capital, was dedicated specifically to Alexander Nevsky. It's no coincidence. 
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: It is no coincidence. 
Vladimir Putin: So he is the guardian of Russian statehood and, in fact, the savior of the Russian ethnic group without any exaggeration. And the deeds that Alexander Nevsky and Peter I had left behind echoed. 
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: Yes, that's absolutely right. And surprisingly, he did not quarrel with the Khans, because the Khans needed our pockets, and gave a powerful rebuff to the Teutons, because they needed our souls, understood very subtly these enemies and opponents. 
Vladimir Putin: That's right. And the kind of relationship he built with the Horde created conditions for preserving Russian identity. That's the most important thing. 
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: To accumulate strength.
Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you. 
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The Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra is the first and largest monastery in St. Petersburg, founded in 1713 on the instructions of Peter the Great.
In 1723, the emperor decided to transfer the relics of the blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St. Petersburg. They were in Shlisselburg for a year, and then on September 12, 1724, they were solemnly installed in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra. Peter I personally participated in the transfer of the relics. Since then, the holy Prince Alexander has been revered as the patron saint of St. Petersburg.
After October 1917, the lavra was closed, and state institutions were located on its territory. Services at Holy Trinity Cathedral have been resumed since 1957. In 1990, the monastery complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, its buildings were transferred to the disposal of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Culture, the silver cancer-the ark of St. Alexander Nevsky, which is located in the Annunciation Church, was transferred to the lavra from the funds of the State Hermitage Museum. After the completion of restoration work in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the entire complex of the tomb will be placed in it - at the place where the relics stayed in the XIX century.