City Executive Committee believes that the Viciebsk diocese BOC advisable to make adjustment of design estimates for the St. Sophia Cathedral in order to reduce environmental damage to the city, however, is not a matter of choosing another place of building speech.
Viciebsk human rights activist Leonid Svetik October 22 received a response from the Viciebsk city executive committee on the collective appeal of city residents in favor of Partisan Glory Park, which was signed by 271 people.
In response, officials have reported that copies of the initiators of the construction of the Cathedral of Polotsk became Archbishop of Viciebsk and Orsha Demetrius and the religious community, "Parish of St. Sophia Cathedral in Viciebsk Belarusian Orthodox Church, Diocese of Viciebsk". They appealed to the city council for permission to build a new church, as a community "does not have its own place of worship" and is ascribed to the Holy Assumption Cathedral.
Priority placement of a new church on Chekhov street on the left bank of the Dvina was given allegedly due to the fact that in this place a bend of the river bed creates a composite effect of St. Sophia Cathedral as the closing of the dominant perspective. At the same time it should be noted that the present St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk is on the opposite, right bank of the Dvina.
Permission to conduct research and design work on the territory of historical and cultural value of 2 categories – the historic center of Viciebsk – was received by September 29, 2014.
City Executive Committee, in its response notes that the journal of public discussion, which took place in August and September 2015, was attached a list of the 412 residents of the city, expressed support for the project. At the same time were in the magazine are also negative responses, in particular, the citizens wrote that it was necessary to restore existing churches in Viciebsk to restore its appearance, rather than engage in a sham.
Also, officials say that the passage of the draft environmental assessment repeatedly returned to the customer on completion due to lack of complete package of documents. After a full package of documents was given, he received a positive assessment. Why it took 8 months – is questionable.
In addition, in a letter emphasizes that the financing of the construction of the temple is planned to be implemented at the expense of the church budget, as well as donations of individuals and legal entities. Due to this, it should not lead to an increase in urban or regional budget. Financial guarantees construction, officials said, speaking Viciebsk Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. However, in a situation of non-transparency of financial activity of the church, when the public does not know of any estimates of construction, the economic condition of the diocese, such assurances ring hollow.
With regard to adjustments to the draft copy of the St. Sophia Cathedral, before making that construction is suspended, it offers executive committee of the diocese to make the following changes:
– Shift the building spot about 36 meters towards the Dvina to best fit into the existing clearing in the park;
– Change the trace underground utilities to avoid cutting down trees;
– Eliminate the guest parking lot construction;
– Reduce the size of the lower church to the upper size (thus, the construction area is reduced by 3.5 times – Ed.);
– Significantly reduce the landscaping around the temple area for maximum preservation of existing green spaces;
– Increase the amount of compensatory planting in the city center (but does not indicate where they will be carried out – Ed.).
As you can see, the city executive committee quite clearly aware that the construction of a copy of St. Sophia Cathedral, in which will be cut down about 200 trees, will bring significant harm to the landscape and recreational area in the park of Partisan Glory named Minay Shmyrev. Urban residents, especially in view of the damage greenery Viciebsk in recent decades, this situation does not suit. At the same time officials under pressure from the authority of the Church, cannot find the courage to offer a logical solution that can dramatically resolve the conflict – to find another site for the new church, which will not have to cut down the park.
Syarzhuk Serabro, news.vitebsk.cc
