Handover of St. Petersburg’s landmark cathedral to Orthodox church may take 2-3 years

Source: TASS

St. Petersburg, January 11, 2017

    

The handover of the St. Isaac’s Cathedral museum, one of St. Petersburg's landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the Russian Orthodox Church, may take at least two to three years, the museum’s director, Nikolay Burov, told TASS on Wednesday.

Burov said that time is needed to determine the future of St. Isaac’s full-time staff totaling 393 members and of several thousand museum items, which are currently part of the state’s property, and to outline plans for refurbishment.

"The restoration should continue," he said. "We have a renovation plan until 2028 but we should take into account that this professional work is costly."

Many items adorn the cathedral’s interior and exterior, Burov said, adding that "the current law on state museum funds does not regulate this matter."

Burov said the museum at St. Isaac’s Cathedral will definitely cease to exist after its handover to the Church.

According to Burov, St. Isaac’s is one of Russia’s most popular museums visited by some 3.5 mln tourists annually.

The director said St. Isaac’s would continue working as museum until the end of 2017.

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko told TASS earlier that St. Isaac’s would keep its museum functions after becoming property of the Russian Orthodox Church and will be open to people of all religions.

The St. Petersburg diocese asked the city government to hand the cathedral back to the Church in 2015 but the request was rejected. A year later new requests were sent to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Governor Poltavchenko.

The cathedral was built in 1818-1858 and transformed into a museum after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Church services were resumed at St. Isaac’s in 1990.

Nonetheless, St. Isaac’s was not property of the Orthodox Church even prior to the revolution as its maintenance was very expensive. The cathedral was managed by the Imperial Ministry of Communication Routes and Public Buildings until 1871 and was then handed over to the Interior Ministry of the Russian Empire.

TASS

1/11/2017

See also
St. Isaac's Cathedral Holds First Christmas Eve Liturgy in 88 Years St. Isaac's Cathedral Holds First Christmas Eve Liturgy in 88 Years
Paul Gilbert St. Isaac's Cathedral Holds First Christmas Eve Liturgy in 88 Years St. Isaac's Cathedral Holds First Christmas Eve Liturgy in 88 Years
Paul Gilbert
St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg's largest Orthodox cathedral, opened its doors on 6 January for a Christmas Eve liturgy, for the first time since 1928. ROC Seek Return of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg ROC Seek Return of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg
Paul Gilbert ROC Seek Return of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg ROC Seek Return of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg
Paul Gilbert
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) have confirmed that they have filed a petition to local politicians in St Petersburg to discuss the return of St. Isaac's Cathedral, which is currently an historical monument and a museum. Russian media sources report that the news of the proposal has generated heated discussion in Russian society. Museum of St Matrona of Moscow to be founded at the saint's birthplace Museum of St Matrona of Moscow to be founded at the saint's birthplace Museum of St Matrona of Moscow to be founded at the saint's birthplace Museum of St Matrona of Moscow to be founded at the saint's birthplace
In the village of Sebino of the Kimovsk district of the Tula region, a museum of St. Matrona of Moscow, who was born there, is to be founded.
Comments
George Mangan AIA1/13/2017 4:49 am
It must be noted that Saint Issac's dome is the prototype for the United States of America's Capital building's dome..
This is noted in The Archives of the Capitol building itself. The US Capitol building is the symbol of United States of America, as St. Basil's Cathedral is the symbol of Russia... Just saying...
Rdr George Mangan AIA
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×