The reconstruction of the Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker is proof of the revival of spiritual life in Russia, Svetlana Medvedeva noted. The First Lady thanked benefactors for their donations toward the restoration of the cathedral, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for his support, as well as all those who participated in the effort.
Reconstruction works are scheduled to be completed in 2013, the year of the cathedral’s centenary. The Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt is the main shrine of the Russian Navy.
During the meeting, Svetlana Medvedeva was presented with a commemorative insignia of Kronstadt’s bicentenary, as well as a certificate attesting her donation of 250,000 rubles to the cathedral reconstruction charity fund.
The meeting, which was chaired by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, was also attended by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Alexander Beglov, Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev, Head of Kronstadt District Administration of St Petersburg Alexander Goroshko, Director of the Federal Service for Oversight of Legislation in the Protection of Cultural Heritage Alexander Kibovsky, architect Mikhail Posokhin, Deputy Defence Minister Grigory Naginsky, President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin, and First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin.
On the same day, the First Lady, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople attended a parade of the Baltic Fleet sailors in Kronstadt’s Cathedral Square.