Orthodox believers urge the government to give Moscow churches back to Church – one old church houses underwear shop and another a restaurant
Moscow, August 18, Interfax – The Association of Orthodox Experts expresses concern about challenges in applying the law on returning property of religious purpose to religious organizations.
“The Association continuously monitors the situation and arrives at disappointing conclusions. There are examples of express blasphemy in Moscow: Michael the Archangel Church at Krasnaya Presnya Street which is today tuned into a women’s underwear shop has not only been returned to the Church, rather, it now houses a new yoga center,” the Association’s statement released Thursday by Interfax-Religion says.
The statement also gives another example of St. Philip Church at Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street which houses a restaurant.
According to the Association, there is still a problem with St. Nicholas Church at Dolgorukovskaya Street which currently houses Soyuzmultfilm, a cartoon studio. The government should give the studio a new building to move into and vacate the church.
