Prot. Dimitry Smirnov and the Association of Orthodox Experts calls for permission to hold services in the Moscow Kremlin Church on the occasion of Cosmonautics Day

On April 11, 2011, the head of the Synodal Department for Relations with of the Armed Forces, Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov, in his video blog, addressed the director Museums of the Moscow Kremlin to Elena Gagarina with a request to resume services in Church of John of the Ladder.

The priest considered symbolic the coincidence of Cosmonautics Day and the day memory of the venerable John of the Ladder. He noted that the daughter of the first cosmonaut "has in the "operational management" of this temple" and could allow "although there would be one divine service a year - on the day of memory of John of the Ladder and on the day when We glorify her dear and great father."

According to the priest, worship in this temple could be broadcast "to the whole world", which "will help both the Kremlin itself and his museums. No exhibition will gather as many spectators as this worship."

As noted by Interfax-religion, the idea of ​​holding divine services in the Kremlin church of St. John of the Ladder, Fr Dimitry spoke at hearings in the State Duma, but it was not approved.

The press service of the museums said that no official statements with requests for worship in this temple from the Russian Orthodox Church is not reported.

On April 12, the Association of Orthodox Experts – again through the media – called E. Gagarin "take an example from his fearless father" and contrary to positions of "anti-church-minded colleagues" to open a temple for worship. Sources

• The Church asks Gagarin's daughter to allow services in the Kremlin church of John of the Ladder, whose memorial day coincides with Cosmonautics Day // Interfax-religion. 2011. April 11.
• The Kremlin museums do not know about the request to resume services in the church under the bell tower of Ivan the Great // There. 12th of April.
• Orthodox urge Gagarin's daughter to be fearless, like a father, and open a church under the bell tower of Ivan the Great // There.