Patriarch Kirill Proposes Special Commission to Resolve Issues with Museums

At the Russian Orthodox Holy Synod meeting in St. Petersburg on Monday, Patriarch Kirill suggested that a special commission be set up to deal with issues concerning museums, RIA Novosti reports.

“We will consider the possibility of creating a special commission for relations with the museum community. As you know, recently a large range of issues have arisen, and they are being discussed in a controversial manner in the press. So we need to consider how to better organize our relations with the museum community,” the patriarch said.

One of the key issues between the church and museums is the Law on the Transfer to Religious Organizations Property of Religious Designation. This proposed legislation would turn over property previously confiscated by the communist regime. It is currently being reviewed by the Russian government and may be introduced to the State Duma in June. Museum representatives, art historians and restoration specialists have come out strongly against the law.