The controversy surrounding a plaque honoring Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, Italy has intensified as efforts to have it removed have failed. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 12,000 people signed a petition asking for its removal, but were unsuccessful. The responsibility for making this decision is unclear, with conflicting opinions from local officials. Bari’s mayor, Antonio Decaro, defended the plaque in 2022, stating that he is against erasing history.
The rector of the basilica, Giovanni Distante, emphasized the history of promoting Christian unity that Saint Nicholas represented, highlighting the connection between the Russian Orthodox Church in Kyiv and the relics now housed in Bari. This subtle reference underscores the divide between the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the Russian patriarchy following the invasion. Despite this, Father Distante believes that Saint Nicholas’s legacy of justice, truth, love, and peace aligns well with the values of the G7 meeting, providing a positive backdrop for the event.
The annual services celebrating Saint Nicholas in Bari drew around 1,000 Orthodox pilgrims, including visitors from Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet states, in addition to the local population. In previous years, the celebration attracted over 10,000 attendees, with a significant number coming from Russia. This year’s event serves as a symbol of unity and peace amidst ongoing tensions in the region, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to honor a shared cultural and religious heritage.
Despite the controversy surrounding the plaque honoring Putin, efforts to remove it have been unsuccessful, with conflicting opinions from local officials and the mayor of Bari defending its presence. The rector of the basilica, Father Distante, has emphasized Saint Nicholas’s legacy of promoting Christian unity and values of justice, truth, love, and peace. This message resonates with attendees of the annual services celebrating Saint Nicholas in Bari, which bring together Orthodox pilgrims from various countries, including Russia and Ukraine, in a spirit of unity and shared cultural heritage.
The dispute over the plaque at the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari reflects broader tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as within the Orthodox Church. The invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent rift between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian patriarchy have added complexity to the discussion of the plaque’s removal. However, Father Distante believes that Saint Nicholas’s message of unity and peace is an appropriate backdrop for the G7 meeting, highlighting the importance of promoting these values in the face of conflict and division.
The presence of Orthodox pilgrims from Russia, Ukraine, and other countries at the annual services celebrating Saint Nicholas in Bari demonstrates a shared reverence for the saint and the values he represents. Despite the controversy surrounding the plaque honoring Putin, this event serves as a symbol of unity and peace, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to honor a common cultural and religious heritage. The ongoing dispute over the plaque highlights the complexity of historical memory and the challenges of navigating competing narratives in a globalized world.
