‘Preliminarily, we can say the cause of the fire at Ganina Yama monastery was stove heating mismanagement,’ the representatives of Russia’s Department of Emergencies announced at a press briefing dedicated to the accident in the temple on the premises of the monastery at Ganina Yama site.

The DoE officials said that, in principle, the temple could be restored, since the foundation and the east entrance had remained intact. However, the valuables reportedly situated in the temple were lost forever.

The valuables in question might comprise the icon of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker that used to belong to Russia’s Royal Family, the icon of Russia’s Saint Royal Passion Bearers, the Iberian icon of Our Lady created on the Holy Mount of Athos, an ark with the hallows of saints, the icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, and the hallows of Saint Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and sister Varvara.

According to the official news releases, seventeen vehicles were used to fight the fire.