7,000 churches in ruins, in need of restoration, says Russian Church

Moscow, May 26, 2021

Photo: foma.ru Photo: foma.ru     

In Russia today, there are about 7,000 Orthodox churches and other objects of spiritual culture in need of reconstruction from complete ruins, a Russian Church representative announced recently.

“The Patriarchal Cultural Council has now identified 7,000 monuments of architecture, and in general of history and spiritual culture, which simply must be saved in some way,” Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, Chairman of the Expert Council on Church Art, Architecture, and Restoration, told RIA-Novosti.

To repair and rebuild the churches, they must first be captured in the state they are in now, Fr. Leonid added. For this purpose, it is planned to use laser and photogrammetric scanning to determine the shape, size, and other characteristics of the objects based on photo images.

Such scanning has already begun in several parts of the country, Fr. Leonid noted.

The problem of dilapidated and ruined churches was discussed during the recent International Educational Readings in Moscow. Fr. Leonid pointed out while there are many programs dedicated to restoring old churches, there is a dangerous trend of replacing ancient icons and interiors with low-quality modern work.

In September, Fr. Leonid served a moleben on the occasion of the launch of the new laser-scanning project, following from the decision of the Supreme Russian Church Council on April 17, 2019.

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5/26/2021

See also
“From a Secular Point of View, It’s Completely Illogical” “From a Secular Point of View, It’s Completely Illogical”
Fr. Dionisy Kamenshchikov “From a Secular Point of View, It’s Completely Illogical” “From a Secular Point of View, It’s Completely Illogical”
On How and Why a Priest from Saratov is Restoring a Destroyed Church in a Remote Village
Priest Dionisy Kamenshchikov
We are rebuilding the village church guided not by logic, but by the call of our hearts. Regular Divine services resume at site of Volga River monastery abolished by Soviets Regular Divine services resume at site of Volga River monastery abolished by Soviets Regular Divine services resume at site of Volga River monastery abolished by Soviets Regular Divine services resume at site of Volga River monastery abolished by Soviets
There are also plans to fully restore Holy Trinity Monastery, founded by the Monk Makary in 1434. At the moment, it is completely destroyed. 70% of the monastery was destroyed during the Soviet period, including the abbot’s residence, the bell tower, and several churches. Annunciation Monastery in Astrakhan returned to Russian Church in time for patronal feast Annunciation Monastery in Astrakhan returned to Russian Church in time for patronal feast Annunciation Monastery in Astrakhan returned to Russian Church in time for patronal feast Annunciation Monastery in Astrakhan returned to Russian Church in time for patronal feast
The monastery had housed the local military commissariat since 1949. It has now been relocated to other premises.
Comments
FrDmitry Wieber6/1/2021 1:51 am
The recent Great and Glorious Converted Cathedral of the Armed Forces, I presume, was build and is maintained completely distinctly separate from these needy and worthy parishes and monasteries. How can it be otherwise?
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