The Synod created a new structure for the examination of art history, architectural and restoration projects

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church , the meeting of which, under the chairmanship of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, took place on the eve of the day before in St. Petersburg, decided to streamline the system of expert evaluation of art history, architectural and restoration projects of general church and diocesan scale.

To this end, it was decided to abolish the general church commission on church art, architecture and restoration and establish the expert council on church art, architecture and restoration.

As noted in the protocol of the Synod meeting ( Synod magazine ), on December 10, 2015, the Higher Church Council (APS) discussed the provision of the General Church Commission on Church Art, architecture and restoration (Journal N 46 of July 13, 2015).

Members of the Central Professional Service noted that the functions proposed for the transfer of the specified commission for the examination of projects in the field of architecture and restoration require operational expert work, the implementation of which may be difficult under the activities of the representative general church commission. In addition, these functions are currently carried out in various institutions: financial and economic management, the patriarchal council for culture and others.

In this regard, the AIC decided to offer the Holy Synod to abolish the general church commission on church art, architecture and restoration and establish an interdepartmental expert council instead.

The Holy Synod approved a temporary provision at the expert advice on church art, architecture and restoration and its regulations at a meeting in St. Petersburg. Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, the diocesan ancient guardian of the diocese of the city of Moscow was appointed chairman of the new body. He was instructed to submit to the approval of the Patriarch the composition of the Expert Council and the draft provisions on this body and the regulations of his work.

The Bishops 'Councils of the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church were recommended to create "in order to improve the quality of examination of diocesan projects in the field of church art, architecture and restoration" - common expert councils for all dioceses of each metropolitan at the Bishops' Councils of the Metropolitan, Blagovers -Info reports.