Head of the legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate abbess Xenia Chernega said about extra-legal factors hindering the transfer of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Her words leads to “Interfax”.
“How will the situation with Isaac, we don’t know. It all depends on when it will be discontinued the right of operational management of the Museum, before or after the decision on the transfer of the object,” said Chernega. She stressed that under the law the Church can take the Museum today or tomorrow.
Thus the ROC will take the decision on when to submit a formal application for the transfer of the Cathedral, says the Church’s lawyer. According to her, the issue specific terms are not regulated by law. “While there are no documents requiring us to apply”, she said.
Also Chernega said that subject to a referendum in the case of Isaac is not, as the transfer is made through the Federal restitution law.
On 17 may, the legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg withdrew from the agenda the question of a referendum about the membership of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Previously Zaks twice by a majority of voters refused to include this issue in the agenda and discuss it at meetings.
In January, city officials have agreed on the transfer of St. Isaac’s Cathedral to the gratuitous use of the Church for 49 years. The Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko said that the Museum function of the building will be saved. The possibility of such transfer has angered citizens of the city, they held a series of meetings.