Moscow, July 11, 2025
Photo: RIA News
There is nothing inappropriate about stepping into a church to escape the heat, according to Priest Alexander Volkov, who heads the information service of the Moscow diocese. Fr. Alexander spoke to RIA News.
Europe, and now Moscow, are having a heat wave, with temperatures in the northern city of up to 40 c.
“If anyone is suffering from the heat or feeling bad, it is of course totally appropriate to step into the nearest church. You can sit on the bench, or if necessary, ask a church worker for help. We always have first aid kits in the churches, and they can call an ambulance if needed,” Fr. Alexander said.
There is no reason why people shouldn’t go into a church to escape the weather, he added. But if that person also takes the opportunity to say a prayer and venerate the icons, that is of course a very positive thing.
Churches in Russia have traditionally been built for bad weather. They tend to be of brick and stucco, with high ceilings and a very high insulation rating.
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