USA: CUSTOMS RETURN STOLEN RELIGIOUS ICONS TO RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NEW YORK.
Record ID:
648619
USA: CUSTOMS RETURN STOLEN RELIGIOUS ICONS TO RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NEW YORK.
- Title: USA: CUSTOMS RETURN STOLEN RELIGIOUS ICONS TO RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NEW YORK.
- Date: 18th May 2001
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (MAY 17, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/TILT: ST. NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL 0.07 2. VARIOUS: INSIDE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL/ TABLE WITH 34 CONFISCATED ICONS/ VARIOUS ICONS ON DISPLAY/ PEOPLE LOOKING AT ICONS (6 SHOTS) 0.49 3. GV/MCU: JOHN C. VARRONE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE AND BISHOP MERCURIUS, HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA SIGNING DOCUMENTS (2 SHOTS) 1.01 4. SCU/MV/ZOOM IN: PRESS AT THE SIGNING/ VARRONE AND MERCURIUS SHAKING HAND, MERCURIUS KISSES ICON (2 SHOTS) 1.14 5. GV: PRESS CONFERENCE 1.21 6. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN C. VARRONE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE SAYING: "An American by the name of Marc Garrison smuggled 34 precious Russian icons out of Russia and into the United States in violation of both our countries laws. U.S. Customs seized the icons before they were to be sold at auction in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the single largest seizure and repatriation of Russian icons in the history of the United States Customs Service." 1.47 7. GV: PRESS CONFERENCE 1.53 8. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN C. VARRONE SAYING: "Our belief is he went to a monastery in St. Petersburg and he was attempting to barter or exchange some medical supplies for these icons." 2.07 9. MV/CU: PEOPLE LOOKING AT ICONS/ VARIOUS ICONS (3 SHOTS) 2.23 10. MV: BISHOP MERCURIUS TALKING TO PRESS 2.29 11. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BISHOP MERCURIUS SAYING: "I am very happy that the icons were returned, it's an unforgettable event. These items were in the hands of smugglers and that they were returned to the church is of course a new life for them allowing them to be prayed with and used in prayer. I would like to extend my wholehearted thanks knowing there were a lot of good people involved in the confiscation, return and to bring them to this day where they are in the church, their true home." 3.13 12. MV/PAN: PEOPLE LOOKING AT TABLE OF ICONS 3.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA7J6WYOKJLJ1WV4T579INJ93GZ
- Story Text: The U.S. Customs service returned 34 early 18th century
icons of various saints to the Russian Orthodox Church in New
York. The icons were confiscated from an American who obtained
them illegally and was trying to auction them off.
Calling it the single largest seizure of Russian icons
in its history, the U.S. Customs Service returned 34 early
19th century paintings of Christ, the Virgin Mary and various
saints to the Russian Orthodox Church in a ceremony at the St.
Nicholas Cathedral in Manhattan on Thursday (May 17).
The icons had been smuggled into the United States from
Russia in violation of customs statutes of both countries.
John C. Vallone of the U.S. Customs Service announced the
action taken by his organization.
"An American by the name of Marc Garrison smuggled 34
precious Russian icons out of Russia and into the United
States in violation of both our countries laws. U.S. Customs
seized the icons before they were to be sold at auction in
Salt Lake City, Utah," said Vallone.
Spirited first into New York without proper
documentation, the icons ended up in Salt Lake City, where a
former bookstore owner, Marc S. Garrison attempted to sell
them at auction. Vallone explained the motives of Garrison.
"Our belief is he went to a monastery in St. Petersburg
and he was attempting to barter or exchange some medical
supplies for these icons."
According to the customs probe, Garrison said the
proceeds of the sale would be used to benefit needy Mormons
residing in Russia. The probe alleges that Garrison's
charitable organization was not registered in either Russia or
the United States.
Bishop Mercurius reacted positively to receiving the
icons.
"I am very happy that the icons were returned, it's an
unforgettable event. These items were in the hands of
smugglers and that they were returned to the church is of
course a new life for them allowing them to be prayed with and
used in prayer," said Mercurius.
The icons will remain with the church until they and the
authorities in both countries can determine their proper
ownership.
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