World's First Monument to Karl Marx Moved

The city of Penza in central Russia has moved its monument to Karl Marx, the first in the world, in Sovyetskaya Square to prepare for the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The new cathedral is being built on the site of a church closed following the Bolshevik Revolution and torn down in 1934. More here.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Endorses Ottawa Shevchenko Monument

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada has issued an appeal to its clergy and faithful to financially support the erection of a monument to renowned Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in the Canadian capital. The Shevchenko Monument is to be unveiled this summer in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the USSR, the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada, and the 150th anniversary of Shevchenko's death.

Construction of the Shevchenko Monument, which is to be situated on the grounds of Ottawa's Ukrainian Catholic shrine Church of St. John the Baptist (pictured with what with Monument), is already underway and should be completed by June. More here. The official website for the project as a whoel can be found here.

Monument to Russian Liberators of Bulgaria Inaugurated

A monument to the imperial Russian soldiers who died during the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Turks in 1877 and 1878 has been inaugurated in Shtruklevo, Bulgaria. With the blessing of Metropolitan Neofit of Ruse, clergy of the Eparchy of Ruse blessed the monument during the inauguration ceremonies, which were attended by the Consul General of Russia in Ruse and an assortment of Bulgarian and Russian officials. More here.