An Ulyanovsk priest protests against the construction of a mosque next to an Orthodox church

The rector of the All Saints Church in Ulyanovsk, Archpriest Alexy Skala, made an open appeal to the Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region, Sergei Morozov. The priest asks to cancel the decision to build a mosque next to an Orthodox church.

According to him, the All Saints Church is already operating at the proposed construction site, the Spaso-Ascension Cathedral is being built nearby, a chapel is located nearby on the site of the former grave of St. Blessed Andrew, the patron saint of the city, and the territory of the former Intercession Monastery is located. In addition, there is a large flow of cars in this area, as a result of which accidents often occur. "The situation is still emergency. What will happen if the cathedral starts operating, and the Cathedral Mosque appears next to it?" - Father Alexy reflects.

He emphasizes that he is not against the construction of the mosque, but specifically against the site chosen for it.

Noting that he is "not a Russian chauvinist", the priest declares: "It seems to me that for the sake of some strange notions like widespread tolerance (spelling preserved - Ed.) , Some people forget about the rights of the Russian Orthodox people in their own country to live according to its rules, traditions and religion. No matter what they tell me, the peoples who profess Islam in our region are a national minority. And in no case should one infringe on the rights and put any obstacles in the way of the titular nation of our country - the great Russian, in the absolute majority Orthodox , the people."

According to Father Alexy, in connection with the proposed construction of the mosque, he receives "an avalanche of questions and indignant appeals from the Orthodox residents of our city, and people who are far from faith, but who do not renounce the fate of our city."

“I, an Orthodox priest, like my flock, do not want to pray and perform divine services to the calls to prayer from the minarets of a nearby mosque! I do not want to offer the Great Bloodless Sacrifice of Holy Communion at a time when sheep will be slaughtered nearby and sacrificial blood will be shed! If someone needs to do this for their religious purposes - this is their right, but not near an Orthodox church! I have nothing against Muslims - their faith is their choice. But I have my faith, my culture, and I want to feel not like somewhere in Saudi Arabia or Turkey, but to be and position yourself as an Orthodox person in Orthodox Russia!" says - the appeal .

Sources

• Orthodox in Ulyanovsk protest against the construction of a mosque next to the cathedral under construction // Interfax-religion. 2009. December 17. (With reference to Ulpressa.ru)