39 churches and 9 monasteries to be returned to the Church

On 22 March 2006, the Public Chamber of Moscow Region complied with the request of the Russian Orthodox Church to return her 39 churches and 9 monasteries in Moscow Region. Local administrations, museums and privately owned enterprises are located in these territories today, ITAR-TASS reports.

Members of the regional governmental body noted that it would be difficult to find new places for such museums as ‘Borodino’, which occupies two monasteries. Chamber’s chairman vice-governor Aleksei Panteleev underscored that ‘we are not speaking about immediate return of the buildings, but try to find ways of solving the problem’.

The Public Chamber of the Moscow Region is an advisory body. Among its members are representatives of political parties, public and religious organizations and members of the regional government and parliament.