Moscow, Oct. 23, 2007 (Forum 18/CWNews.com) - A Russian Orthodox parish is being forced out of its historic church building in the city of Khabarovsk, the Forum 18 news service reports. The unusual move suggests the government's interest in promoting commercial ventures, to the detriment of religious congregations.
St. Nicholas parish in Khabarovsk is being evicted from its church, which dates back to the Tsarist regime. The building was confiscated by the Communist government, then returned to the Russian Orthodox community, and has been used regularly by the parish.
The building is part of a complex that has been designated for new commercial development. Orthodox officials, who argue that a consecrated church building cannot be used for any purpose other than worship, see their ouster as a prelude to desecration of the church. But government officials have shown little interest in the Orthodox complaints-- thus indicating a slippage in the political clout of the Moscow patriarchate.
[For a more detailed report see the Forum 18 web site.]