Orthodox community walks to support restoration of the Monastery of the Passion Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow

Photo Source

From Interfax:

Orthodox community walks to support restoration of the Monastery of the Passion Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow

Moscow, July 16, Interfax - A procession and a large meeting to support restoration of the Monastery of the Passion Icon of the Mother of God at Pushkinskaya Sq. were held in Moscow last Saturday.

Near one hundred people led by a priest from the Dormition church in Putinki walked down Pushkinskaya Sq. praying for the ancient monastery to be restored.

During the meeting it was said that Moscow mayor's decision not to build a mall under the square was but the starting victory of the public will.

'Our goal is complete or at least partial rebuilding of the Monastery of the Passion Icon of the Mother of God,' the Union of the Orthodox Citizens press secretary Kirill Frolov told Interfax.

According to him, it would benefit Moscow's design too since 'Moscow's main street, Tverskaya St., had been actually destroyed during the Bolshevik "reconstruction" of our capital city so today nothing resembles of its long history and holy shrines.

'Rebuilding of the monastery, Frolov said, is therefore 'a key point of the long needed policy aiming at regeneration of Moscow's historic center.'

The action participants believe that beyond the Monastery of the Passion Icon of the Mother of God, other historic sites as monasteries of the Miracle of St. Michael the Archangel at Chonum and of Ascension in the Kremlin, the Red Gate arch, the Sukharev Tower, the church of St. Florus and St. Laurus at Myasnitskaya St., the Dog-walk Ground, a meeting-point of Moscow Slavophile Movement members.

Though the restoration of Moscow historic center is very essential, Frolov added, it is also important to pay attention at new Moscow's living areas to be constructed in accordance with the traditional Russian city-planning with Orthodox churches as city layout key points.