A protest rally was held in Ryazan against the transfer of museum exhibits to the diocese • Sova • RIMA

A protest rally was held in Ryazan against the transfer of museum exhibits to the diocese

At the beginning of May, a protest rally took place in Ryazan against the transfer of museum exhibits from the fund of the Ryazan Museum-Reserve to the Orthodox diocese.

The program was prepared on the basis of the order of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alexander Avdeev dated June 18, 2009. At the same time, a commission was created to compile a list of religious items intended for transfer to the diocese.

The museum-reserve believes that the commission’s actions are illegal, since we are talking about a state museum fund, the division of which is prohibited by law. In 2009, 155 items were donated to the Church. The diocese then prepared a proposal to transfer 2,600 exhibits to it. The transfer is expected to be carried out in stages. The exhibits being transferred include 66 icons, including those dating from the 12th to 16th centuries.

The protest was attended by representatives of regional branches of the Association of Creative Teachers, the Federation of Historical Fencing, the Assembly of Peoples of Russia, the Association of Political Sciences, the Union of Writers, the city historical club "Veche" and the Club of Archaeologists, and the public movement "Solidarity". Participants held posters in their hands: “Russia is going back - into the darkness of the church Middle Ages,” “No church “privatization”!”, “The Kremlin is an ancient fortress, not church property,” “There is an attack on culture. There is no future without culture,” “Hands off the museum in the Kremlin!”, “There are many churches in Ryazan, but there is only one Kremlin.”

Sources

Defenders of the Ryazan Kremlin held a May Day protest “No to church “privatization”!” // News Agency "7 News". 2010. May 5.
At the instigation of Minister Avdeev, national relics are floating away in an unknown direction // Website of the Public Committee in Defense of the Ryazan Kremlin. 2010. April 28.
Voronina A. Is the Church appropriating exhibits from the Ryazan Kremlin? // Ibid. 26 March. (Article from the Ryazan edition of Komsomolskaya Pravda. 2010. 11.03)