Five minutes for the cathedral

The decision to transfer the St. Isaac's Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church was made too hastily. This was stated by a senior federal official on anonymity, reports Interfax.

“It was not agreed with President Vladimir Putin, although now the head of state is aware of the current situation,” the source noted. “Sociological surveys of the population show that the inhabitants of Russia as a whole support the proposal to transfer the Isaacia of the Church. However, this initiative is rejection. Consensus is achieved subject to the joint use of the cathedral by secular authorities and the church.”

As one of the possible legal constructions, the source called the state-confessional partnership, in which the cathedral guaranteed to retain the legal status of the museum and staff of employees. In accordance with the Prepared by the St. Petersburg authorities, the transfer of Isaacia can take more than two years. “In other words, there is time to search for a mutually acceptable solution,” the source emphasized.

“We are not commenting on the words of anonymous sources,” said Andrei Kibitov, spokesman for the governor of St. Petersburg.

On Friday, Patriarch Kirill at a meeting of the Supreme Church Council said that the transfer of Isaacia of the Russian Orthodox Church in the year of the century of revolution would be a " symbol of reconciliation of our people ." According to the Patriarch, once the destruction of temples and mass killings of believers "became the terrible page of the national separation." “Now the world around the returned churches should be the personification of the consent and mutual forgiveness of the“ white ”with“ red ”, believers with unbelievers, rich with the poor, because the beauty of the Isaac's Cathedral, open to everyone, equally reaches the heart of every person, regardless of nationality, beliefs, faith, the language in which he speaks,” Cyril emphasized.

The church prays that the return of Isaac "stops the evil thoughts of people who make the cause of discord from the house of prayer." “We believe that the all -mall Lord will bring the world and disperse doubts created out of ignorance and ignorance,” the Patriarch said.

On January 10, the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko announced the transfer of the Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the same time, he promised that the access of visitors to the cathedral would remain unlimited, and the further maintenance of the building would be maintained at the expense of clergy. Meanwhile, on January 11, the head of the legal service of the Moscow Patriarchate of Igumen Ksenia (Chernoga) said that the Russian Orthodox Church awaits subsidies for the maintenance of the cathedral . “Since this is the UNESCO object, perhaps city subsidies should be involved,” Igumena noted.

On January 12, it became known that the St. Isaac's Cathedral will be transferred to the free use of the Russian Orthodox Church for a period of 49 years. The contract must be concluded with the Russian Orthodox Church no later than two years after the signing of the order, that is, until the end of 2018. Prior to this, an inventory of all museum funds should be carried out.

The St. Petersburg Union of Scientists opposed the transfer of the ROC Cathedral. Temporarily withdraw the petition of the St. Petersburg diocese on the transfer of Isaac was also asked by the director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky. Numerous shares were held against the transfer of the cathedral (