Orthodox Christians demand protection of property rights of the Patriarchal Metochion in Sokolniki

On December 11, a rally in defense of the Church of John the Baptist and the Patriarchal Compound in Sokolniki was held in Moscow, organized by the public association "People's Cathedral". According to the Patriarchy.Ru website , "about 1,500 people took part in the prayer standing with icons, banners and posters, which lasted more than two hours."

The Internet resource states the essence of the conflict as follows: “In accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation 1347-r of September 11, 1998, the complex of buildings of the former Sokolniki branch of the Moscow Work House, including the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, closed by the Soviet authorities back in January 1923 years, were to be transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.In order to revive social service, the traditions of mercy and charity, by the Decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia of September 9, 1998, the Patriarchal Metochion was established at the temple.

Meanwhile, the order of the Government on the transfer of the complex of buildings of the plant to the Russian Orthodox Church has not been fulfilled to this day! The so-called "realtors", bypassing the government decree, seized the former Moscow Electromechanical Plant N1, on whose territory the temple is located. Through machinations and with the connivance of the authorities, they refused to transfer to the Patriarchal Metochion the largest of the factory buildings - the main building of the Work House - and put it under the hammer.

As a result of this, the temple and the premises of the charity house adjacent to it may be taken away from the Church. The new "owners" have already announced that they are going to set up a casino here."

The participants adopted the "Appeal to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin, Prime Minister of Russia M.E. Fradkov, Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation V.V. Ustinov, Mayor of Moscow Yu.M. Luzhkov." The document says that due to "deliberate collusion of officials and businessmen" the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Patriarchal Compound lost: "1. Church buildings; 2. The main building of the Workhouse; 3. Land; 4. The status of an all-Russian monument of cultural heritage; 5. State Guard". The new owners periodically turn off electricity and water and threaten to leave the parish without heat and light from next year.

According to the authors of the appeal, “this cynically, brazenly destroys the spiritual life of the temple, in which divine services are held in full, Sunday church schools for children and adults, a library, an Orthodox publishing house, a rehabilitation center for helping victims of totalitarian sects operate spiritually. movement "Association of the Knights".

“We, the citizens of Russia,” the appeal says, “according to the law of conscience, in the name of justice and respect for the traditions of Russia, the Church and Orthodox society, in the name of national and religious harmony, we demand an end to sacrilege and ask:

∙ President of the Russian Federation to resolve the issue of transferring the building of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Sokolniki, Moscow, to the Moscow Patriarchate as an all-Russian monument of cultural heritage;

∙ Chairman of the Government of Russia - to ensure the full implementation of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1347-r dated September 11, 1998. Transfer buildings 2,7,8,9,10 to the Moscow Patriarchate in the possession of 2a on Kolodezny Lane in Moscow;

∙ Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation - to give a legal assessment of the illegal actions of officials of Roskultury and the Federal Property Management Agency;

∙ Mayor of Moscow - to assist and assist in the creation of a functioning museum-monument of church history and social service to society, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' on March 31, 2004."

The rally participants decided to continue actions in defense of the property rights of the Patriarchal Metochion.

On December 14, Russky Vestnik called on "everyone who is ready to defend God's Temple" to send written appeals on this matter to the President and the Prosecutor General.

On December 21 , Russkaya Liniya reported that representatives of the Narodny Sobor movement handed over to the President, the Prime Minister, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Culture and Mass Communications, the head of the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management and the Mayor of Moscow a set of documents in defense of the property rights of the Patriarchal Compound.

According to the agency, "the kit contains materials:

• "Statement" on the lawlessness of the officials of Roskultura and the Federal Property Management Agency, signed by Father Superior of the Metochion of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Father John (Yermakov);

• "Appeal of the participants of the rally" in defense of the Patriarchal Metochion, which took place on December 11 this year on Slavyanskaya Square. Moscow;

• materials of newspaper publications on the facts of fraud in relation to church property;

• photocopies of signature sheets containing the signatures of about 4,000 Russian citizens, demanding a thorough investigation of the facts of fraud reported in the media, as well as full implementation of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation 1347-r of September 11, 1998 on the transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church of a complex of historical buildings of a socio-religious destination in Sokolniki, including the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist with the land plot related to it at the address: Moscow, Kolodezny lane, possession 2-a.

Sources

• A rally was held in Moscow in defense of the Church of the Nativity of the Prophet and Forerunner John in Sokolniki // Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers. 2005. December 11.
• A rally in defense of the Church of John the Baptist in Sokolniki was held on Slavyanskaya Square in the capital // Patriarchy.Ru. 2005. December 12.
• Let's protect God's temple! // Russian Bulletin. 2005. December 14.
• Now the word is up to those in power: the People's Cathedral movement has handed over documents on the Patriarchal Metochion in Sokolniki to the authorities... // Russian line. 2005. December 22.