St. Isaac’s Cathedral will be available for tours, according to the metropolis – RIA Novosti

23:5910.01.2017

(updated: 00:04 11.01.2017)

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St. PETERSBURG, January 10 – RIA Novosti. Isaac’s Cathedral after its transfer to ROC will be available for everyone to visit the temple with cultural and educational purpose of his excursion activity will be saved, told RIA Novosti the head of communications of the St. Petersburg Metropolia Natalia Rodomanova.

Earlier, the press Secretary of the Governor of St. Petersburg Andrei Kibito said that Isaac’s Cathedral will be handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church for free use, however it will retain the Museum and educational functions. According to him, the process of transfer of a Cathedral can take a long period of time.

“Official confirmation of the transfer of the Church to control the Church yet. But I can say that, as we have stated before, after the transfer of the Cathedral to the management of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Church would not be lost nor Petersburg nor Russia, nor for the world culture. Of course, for all those wishing to visit the Cathedral with cultural and educational purpose trips will be organized. The Church is aware of its responsibility for the preservation of cultural heritage,” said Rodomanova.

She stressed that the Russian Orthodox Church has sufficient experience with museums. According to Rodomanova, Saint-Petersburg, the metropolis intends to use the experience of guides and specialists working in the Cathedral, for further cooperation. Issues of preservation and restoration of the building will be taken into account in the contract between the city and the diocese on the transfer for gratuitous use of the temple buildings.

Earlier media reported that the Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for culture Maxim Reznik appealed to the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko in connection with the appearance in the last days 2016 information about the planned decision to transfer to St. Isaac’s Cathedral Church. The Deputy asked the Governor to announce an official position on this issue. At the same time, the Director of the Museum-monument “St. Isaac’s Cathedral” Nikolai Burov, told reporters that the rumors about the transfer of the Council “reasonably”.

At the St. Petersburg Metropolitanate informed in turn that the Archdiocese recently filed additional requests for the return of the Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Russian Orthodox Church, however, does not waive these claims. The St. Petersburg diocese in 2015 addressed to city authorities with the request to transfer the building of St. Isaac’s Cathedral for free use, but was refused.

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral was built in 1818-1858 years by architect Auguste Montferrand. Its height exceeds 100 meters, and the inner area — more than 4 thousand square meters. The Russian government handed over St. Isaac’s Cathedral property in St. Petersburg in October 2012.