Update on Roman church transfer to Russian Church

Moscow, April 30, (Interfax) - The Board of Trustees of the Russian church of the Great Martyr Saint Catherine in Rome has lauded the progress of the final preparations for the festivities on the consecration of the church scheduled for May 24.

"We are approaching the festivities. Tasks are being carried out. The mechanism of decision-making is clear to all," Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said at a meeting of the board in St. Daniel's Monastery.

The meeting discussed the completion of interior decorations in the church and the reclamation of the surrounding territory. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov who attended the meeting, stressed the importance of additional electricity supplies to the building required for its normal operation. This would speed up the installation of ventilation in the church "in order to dry everything and put it in order," he said.

The audit commission reported to the meeting on the results of its inspection. It had not identified any abuses in financing or misuse of funds.

Father Superior of the Church Filipp (Vasiltsev) told the Board of Trustees about the plans of the parish to organize a Russian cultural center in the future.

He said that a detailed cultural program was drawn for 2009 which includes among other things a series of lectures by professors of the Moscow Theological Academy, lessons of the Moscow school of bell ringing and also an art exhibition.

The Board of Trustees will have its next meeting at the beginning of June.