"Sophia of Kiev" rep comments transfer of St. Andrew’s Church to Phanar
A contract for the use of St. Andrew’s Church will be signed with a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the press service of the "Sophia of Kiev" said.
St. Andrew's Church in Kiev remains the property of the State and will stay on the balance of the National Sanctuary Complex “Sophia of Kiev”, the press service for the complex said in an official statement published on Thursday.
It is noted that the restoration of St. Andrew's Church will be continued until its full completion, and after the restoration, it will be reopened to visitors.
The complex's museum workers will continue to work, observing legislative requirements on the protection of monuments, it said.
"The National Sanctuary Complex “Sophia of Kiev” has sufficient experience of cooperation with representatives of various Churches (St. Cyril’s Church, Warm Sofia) to ensure a decent state of our attraction, St. Andrew's Church," the press service concluded.
On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada passed the first reading of a presidential bill on the transfer of St. Andrew's Church to the Phanar. On the same day, the “Opposition Bloc” MPs submitted to the Parliament a bill on the abolition of the transfer of St. Andrew’s Church to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
