Isaacievsky Cathedral will not be transmitted to the Russian Orthodox Church

The government of St. Petersburg made the final decision on the status of the Isaac's Cathedral - it will remain a museum and will not be transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.

This was announced by Interfax by the press secretary of the governor of St. Petersburg George Poltavchenko Andrei Kibitov.

In July, the St. Petersburg diocese requested the transfer of the Isaacievsky Cathedral from city property to the ROC. The Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky spoke out against this idea.

“In the case of transferring the cathedral to the use of the St. Petersburg diocese, all expenses for its maintenance, restoration and security will fall on the owner-the city of St. Petersburg. - explained Kibitov. “This will entail additional serious expenses in the city budget and a reduction in financing of other socially significant projects and programs, which is unacceptable in the current economic situation.”

“The Government of St. Petersburg decided to preserve the Cathedral building in the Operational Administration of St. Petersburg GBUK" State Museum-Museum "Isaac's Cathedral ," said the spokesman for the governor of St. Petersburg.

“I expected just such a decision. - commented the director of the Museum "Isaac's Cathedral" Nikolai Burov. - It is state, it is strong -willed, it is accepted in favor of state interests and in favor of the opinion, which for the most part expressed by residents of the city. It is consonant with the opinion of the Ministry of Culture. ”