Representatives of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church managed to stop the demolition of the Church of the Sovereign Icon of the Mother of God

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church finally intervened in the conflict around the Nizhny Novgorod Church of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God. When workers began to dismantle the building on March 3, outraged local residents turned to the diocese. Representatives of the latter were admitted to the temple only after the arrival of the vice-mayor of Nizhny Novgorod Alexander Meleshkin and the developer. about this NTA-Privolzhye news agency Igor Pchelintsev, the press secretary of the diocese, told . He also said that negotiations have begun between all three interested parties. (See also Archpriest Igor Pchelintsev and Priest Andrei Milkin, Chief of Protocol of the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, signed the text of an appeal dated March 4 in connection with the current situation; this appeal states that "a real war has been unleashed in the Nizhny Novgorod newspapers. "Arguments and Facts" , "Nizhny Novgorod News", which has not yet been noticed in opposition to the Church, suddenly, as if on cue, burst into vicious materials, where potential clients of the "Social Initiative", applying for housing, and the Nizhny Novgorod diocese clash foreheads.)

The military prosecutor's office of the Nizhny Novgorod garrison was engaged in checking the legality of the construction of the house.

On March 11, representatives of both conflicting parties discussed the problem at a closed meeting at the residence of Bishop George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. However, no compromise could be reached. The developer does not agree to the diocese's proposal to build a full-fledged parish church nearby to replace the church to be demolished. Negotiations will continue with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which owns the site.

On April 9, opponents of the demolition of the church - representatives of the Cossacks and activists of the SPG - marched along the main street of the city with posters: "The power is with God, they don't joke with God", "Defend Orthodox Rus'", "We will not allow the demolition of Russian churches", and then at the monument to Chkalov held a rally against the construction. Representatives of the authorities did not come out to the protesters.

On April 14, believers gathered at the temple to prevent the builders - according to the instructions of the "Social Initiative", the building should have been vacated by 12 o'clock that day. The developers did not show up at the appointed time. Parishioners and Cossacks organized round-the-clock duty at the temple, declaring that they would not leave even if the building was demolished by a bulldozer.

Sources

• The Nizhny Novgorod diocese did not allow to dismantle the temple of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God in Nizhny Novgorod // NTA-Privolzhye. 2005. March 3.
• The military prosecutor's office of the Nizhny Novgorod garrison checks the legality of construction near the temple of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God // IA "NTA-Privolzhye". 2005. March 4.
• They want to clash the military, state employees and the Church, or how much the Nizhny Novgorod media are sold for // Official site of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. 2005. March 4.
• MEDIA MONITORING: The builders were invited to the Bishop's residence. That they build a new temple instead of the old canteen // Portal-Credo.ru. 2005. March 15. (Article by Yu. Sukhonina from Kommersant.)
• Nightingale A. Procession in support of the Church of the Sovereign Mother of God passed along the main street of Nizhny Novgorod Bolshaya Pokrovskaya // NTA-Nizhny Novgorod Telegraph Agency. 2005. April 9.
• Parishioners of a church being demolished in Nizhny Novgorod are ready to stand in the way of a bulldozer // Portal-credo.ru. 2005. April 15. (With reference to "Blagovest-info")