Suzdal authorities are seeking to seize several more churches from the ROAC

In early July, the office of the Synod of Bishops of the ROAC in Suzdal received 2 official letters dated June 26. They include Deputy Governor of the Vladimir Region, Director of the Department of Property and Land Relations of the Regional Administration A.V. Denisov demands that the believers of the ROAC before July 20, 2009 vacate several more "buildings for religious purposes."

The first letter concerns three churches - Mikhailo-Arkhangelsk in the village of Ivanovskoye, St. Alexander Nevsky in the village of Ves and St. Ephraim the Syrian in the village of Omutskoye. These churches were transferred to the Suzdal diocese in 1996-97. under agreements on the transfer to perpetual gratuitous use, signed by the diocese with the regional Committee for State Property Management. Referring to paragraph 1 of Art. 699 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, the vice-governor announces the refusal of the administration of the Vladimir region from the mentioned agreements and "offers to release and transfer" three churches to the State Center for the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Vladimir Region.

In the second letter, three more churches are indicated, which the believers of the ROAC should vacate - St. George the Victorious in the village of Krapivye, St. Basil the Great in the village of Borisovskoye and St. John the Baptist in the village of Pavlovsk.

Recall that at present the court is considering cassation complaints against the previously confiscated temples.

Sources

• The Administration of the Vladimir Region Demands that ROAC Believers Stop Divine Services and “Free” Six More Rural Churches // Portal-Credo.ru. 2009. July 6.
• DOCUMENT: "Abandon the agreements... Free the temples...". Deputy Governor of the Vladimir Region to the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church // Portal-Credo.ru. 2009. July 8.