Service in St. Isaac’s Cathedral (archive photos)
Activists of opposition movements staged in St. Isaac’s Cathedral in protest against the transfer of the building to the Russian Orthodox Church. They entered the temple at a time when there was a vigil, according to “Fontanka”.
A newspaper reporter counted about 20 protesters. The activists took out a sheet of paper with printed on them in large letters, making the words “Museum”. Others were photographed against the background of the priests.
On the scene were summoned police, but they did not intervene. In the end, the Museum staff persuaded the protesters to disperse.
In the afternoon of 28 January the Champ de Mars in St. Petersburg held rallies of supporters and opponents of the transfer of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Russian Orthodox Church. In support of this decision made by Orthodox activists and members of the National liberation movement. Against the transition of the Cathedral to use the Church rallied around two thousand citizens. Skirmishes between them was observed.
January 10 the St. Petersburg authorities have announced the decision of a question on transfer of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Russian Orthodox Church. The Governor Georgy Poltavchenko promised that the Museum’s function is fully preserved. For the first time, the St. Petersburg diocese has requested the transfer of Isaac in 2015, but was refused.