This account was written to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia. It briefly traces the history of icon restoration from its beginning in the second half of the 19th century up to the present. The principles and methods of icon restoration at various times in that country, the role of the removal of overpaintings, and new repaintings actively started after the revolution are discussed and used in an objective presentation of the history of old Russian art. The author focuses on the present state of studies, the problems in researching and implementing the complex contemporaneous restoration methods, and the objectives of the study and preservation of icon painting.