President Putin began his visit to the ancient Russian town by touring the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery and inspecting an exhibition of icons restored by Vladimir and Suzdal craftsmen. He was given a tour around workshops for restoring old relics, household effects and clothing of the 15th-18th century, led through monastery cells and premises and shown a 13th century belfry.
President Putin laid flowers at the grave of Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, located at the monastery, and then attended a Christmas choir concert at the Suzdal Kremlin. Among the invitees were clergy from neighbouring monasteries and people known in the Vladimir Region: teachers, doctors and scientists. Soloists from the Blagost male choir and girls from the Nadezhda Boarding School at the Svyato-Troitsky Monastery performed. After the concert, the President talked with young performers and thanked them for their beautiful singing.
In the evening, he had a meeting with the Governor of the Vladimir Region, Nikolai Vinogradov, who told the President about the region’s social and economic development, the functioning of housing and communal services in the winter heating season and preparations for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Preserve. The discussion also focused on the restoration of the old St Boris and St Gleb Cathedral in the village of Kideksha, built in 1152.