Deputies of the Saratov City Duma decided to transfer a mansion in the city center and a health camp to the local diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church

On December 26, the Saratov City Duma considered the issue of transferring "Timofeev's mansion" to the free use of the Saratov diocese - a building on the street. Volskaya, where the office of the chief federal inspector for the Saratov region is located.

The prospect of transferring the building provoked a protest from a member of the Communist Party faction, Sergei Afanasiev, who recalled the multi-confessional nature of Russian society. The deputy suggested registering the building not for the diocese, but for the Bishop of Saratov and Volsky Longin (Korchagin), a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. S. Afanasyev's arguments were supported by Viktor Markov, a deputy from the Union of Right Forces. He stated that the transfer of the mansion to representatives of one of the religious denominations will cause, "at least, misunderstanding among others, also widely represented in the region."

As a result, the question "for ethical reasons" was dropped from consideration.

The federal inspector for the Saratov region, Vladimir Shutov, believes that the diocese really needs additional premises, but "in any case, the solution of this issue is solely within the competence of the deputies of the city duma."

January 16, 2007 at a meeting of the City Duma Committee on the budget, it was decided to transfer the mansion on the street. Volsk diocese. According to SaratovBusinessConsulting , "together with the representative of the diocese, Father Vladimir and federal inspector Vladimir Shutov, the deputies came to the conclusion that the social role of the church should not be questioned, and the personality of Vladyka Longin should not be divided into a pastor and a public figure. Therefore, the majority of the deputies voted for the extension agreement. Afanasiev was against it, Markov abstained."

Bishop Longin's reception room will be in the mansion, the other part of the building should remain assigned to the office of the chief federal inspector.

In addition, the deputies intend to transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church also the recreation camp of the Kirovsky district "Solnechny" on 9th Dachnaya Street. "The health resort has been in a worn-out state for a long time, and therefore the church offered to take patronage over it, bring it into working condition," SaratovBusinessConsulting said in a statement. "Each of the churches in Saratov will be assigned camp houses, in which children from low-income families will rest" .

Sources

• "KOMMERSANT" (Volgograd): "The deputies were afraid to offend confessions. The City Duma of Saratov blocked the transfer of a mansion in the city center to the Russian Orthodox Church" // Interfax-religion. 2006. December 27. (Article by T. Nikitina from the Volgograd issue of Kommersant.)
• The deputies decided to transfer to the Diocese the premises on Volskaya and the camp // SaratovBusinessConsulting. 2007. January 16.