A church built by inmates consecrated at high security penal colony in Perm

A new church dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker has been consecrated at High Security Penal Colony No. 10 in the Perm region, the regional governor’s press service has reported. The initiative to build the church belongs to inmates and the colony chief. Its foundation stone was laid down on May 5, 2005. It is the 13th church to be built in Perm colonies.

The church was consecrated by Archpriest Alexander Altmark, rector of the church of the Annunciation in Perm.

‘The construction of churches in regional colonies is very important for the revival and preservation of spiritual traditions. Evil cannot be eradicated by prohibition alone; the very root of evil should be healed through human conscience and spirituality’, said Father Alexander as cited by the press service.

The church with five cupolas has been built by inmates themselves according to the old traditions of Russian wooden architecture. Inmates have also produced a great number of icons. They have also raised most of the funds for the construction of the church.

From Interfax-Religion