The Russian Church gave one of its oldest temples in Italy
Moscow. April 4. INTERFAX.RU Temple of St. Nicholas in the Italian town of Merano transferred to the gratuitous use of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Previously, the community has annually coordinated the services with the city authorities. From now on, in accordance with the agreement between the province of Alto Adige, in property which is the temple, and the administration of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in Italy, the parish had total freedom in the organization of worship and the right of permanent use of the Church, reported Tuesday on the website of the ROC.
The Church of St. Nicholas is one of the oldest Russian churches in Italy. The Orthodox parish in South Tyrol originated in the late nineteenth century, when these lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1884 in Merano was consecrated the first Church in honor of St. Nicholas. In 1897 the Church was moved to the top floor of a two story outbuilding, part of a complex of villas.
Meran in South Tyrol Church (Pfarrkirche Skt. Nikolaus) pic.twitter.com/LjIcKlnSxC
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During the first world war the Church was closed. Divine services were resumed in 1997 and since then, occur regularly.