New Moscow Churches Not Financed With State Funds

The chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's information department, Vladimir Legoyda, has clarified for the Russian public that the new churches being built in metropolitan Moscow are not being built with taxpayers' money, but with church funds and private donations. The city government has allocated land for the churches, but is not contributing to their actual construction. More (in Russian) here.

Russian Orthodox Spokesman Responds to Criticisms of Moscow Church Construction Plans

A spokesperson for the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoyda, has responded to criticisms of a recent decision to build roughly 200 new parish churches in metropolitan Moscow by pointing out that church construction does not inhibit the development of much needed social infrastructure like kindergartens and noting a recent initiative to greatly increase the number of residential daycare centers in the Russian capital. Observing that it is not an 'either/or' situation, Legoyda also discussed a recent patriarchal decree that Moscow's new churches to built to include educational centers hosting spaces for Sunday schools, libraries, and youth clubs. More (in Russian) here.