Krishna Temple should not violate the architectural and spiritual appearance of the capital

The Russian Orthodox Church believes that the future Krishna temple should not change the architectural and spiritual appearance of the Russian capital.

“In architectural plan, this building must correspond to the appearance of Moscow, for which Hindu cult structures are absolutely unconventional,” the official representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Priest Mikhail Dudko, told the Interfax agency.

In addition, in his opinion, "the size and location of the temple must correspond to the specific gravity of this religious organization in the general spiritual picture of Russia."

The new project, presented today by the Krishnaites, but has not yet been approved, suggests that the Indian cultural center, where the prayer room will also be located, will reach a height of 38.5 meters.

“This is a huge building the size of a 16 -story house,” the representative of the church noted, adding that “most of the Moscow temples are much lower.”

Mikhail Dudko recalled that in one of the documents of the Bishop Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, the International Society of Consciousness Krishna was called a totalitarian sect and since then the position on this issue has not changed.

"We are not able to influence the decisions of the Moscow government, which ordered to build a religious building for the Society of Consciousness of Krishna, who received official registration in Russia," the priest admitted.

At the same time, he expressed satisfaction that, "making this decision, the capital's leadership listened to the voice of the Orthodox public ."

At the same time, the representative of the church suggested that "it would be more reasonable to build an Indian cultural center on the basis of one of the traditional directions of Hinduism, and not with the help of a totalitarian sect, which is the society of Krishna consciousness."

Speaking about this, the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church complained that the emergence of a Krishna temple in Moscow could intensify the missionary work of Krishnas among the local population, the appeal of Muscovites to an unconventional faith.

"Alas, there is every reason to assume that construction is being started in order to attract new supporters," said Mikhail Dudko.

In conclusion, he stated that "the confrontation of such construction should be spiritual and should not be poured into illegal actions."

In turn, the executive secretary of the Russian inter -religious Council Roman Silantyev actually refuted the statement that in India herself, representatives of the Society of Consciousness of Krishna are considered followers of the traditional direction in Hinduism.

“It should be distinguished by traditional vaisnavians - Hindu by blood and members of the Society of Consciousness of Krishna - Europeans and Americans, who adopted the outside of the creed and try to instill it with other non -integrations,” R. Silantyev explained in an interview.

According to him, in India, the right of Hinduists to conduct missionary work is far from being recognized in India. “Another thing,” the agency’s interlocutor added, “that some time ago, a number of nationalist Indian politicians began to welcome Indian Christians' appeal to Hinduism.”

However, this, as R. Silantyev noted, was an attempt to counteract the successful Christian missionary mission in India.

“If in India they counteract him, then why should we encourage Hindu mission in Russia,” the representative of the inter -religious council asked a rhetorical question.

As already reported , at a press conference today in the Central House of Journalists, the head of the Russian Krishnas said that the construction of an Hindu temple in Moscow could begin in late 2004 - early 2005.