Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center (Paris). Russian spiritual and cultural center in Paris

A consulate of independent California will open in Yekaterinburg. According to Louis Marinelli, despite the fact that the cultural center, which the separatists conditionally called the embassy, ​​will represent the still non-existent republic, Russians will be interested in the cultural heritage of California.

The Russian Spiritual and Cultural Orthodox Center was inaugurated in Paris. In the very heart of Paris, a large historical Center is not one building, but a whole complex of buildings, and in the heart is an Orthodox church - a five-domed, five-domed cathedral in Paris Immediately after the opening

Holy Trinity Cathedral and Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center - a complex of four buildings: Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of the Korsun Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church

© Photo: TASS, Dominique Boutin The Russian spiritual and cultural Orthodox center officially opened on the Quai Branly in Paris on Wednesday. Anna Shlychkova, press attache of the Russian Embassy in France, reported this to Interfax.

“The center opened; at the ceremony, Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation, read out a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin and personally thanked all those who took part in the project,” she explained.

Russian President Putin, in his greeting to the ceremony participants, noted that the process of agreeing and implementing the Center project was very difficult. “However, the constant support from the French government made it possible to successfully overcome all the difficulties that arose along the way and complete the work on time. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped in word and deed to solve this important task,” Putin noted.

The Minister of Culture will also open an exhibition of works from the collection of collector Sergei Shchukin at the Louis Vuitton Foundation," the department's press service said. Earlier, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said that the Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris, as planned, will begin work on October 19 He clarified that in this center “there will be an exhibition on the construction of the center, and there will also be an exhibition on the history of Russian-French relations.” Ushakov added that these exhibitions had been prepared earlier.

The opening ceremony of the Russian spiritual and cultural center took place on Wednesday in Paris. © Sputnik The Russian Orthodox spiritual and cultural center in Paris is part of the Russian Embassy in France. 10 of 14. Title of the material being opened.

Russian Center in Paris: Connection of Times and Peoples. On October 19 in Paris, the doors of the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center open for the first visitors. The complex of buildings, the pearl of which was the five-domed Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, was erected by Jean-Michel Wilmot.

The President of Russia also expressed confidence that the Center will take its rightful place among the cultural attractions of Paris, and its activities will serve to preserve and strengthen the good traditions of friendship and mutual respect that have long connected Russians and the French.

On the first day of operation of the center, two exhibitions will open there, dedicated to the history of its construction and Russian-French relations. A meeting of the Russian-language Press Congress is also planned.

The Russian spiritual and cultural Orthodox center is located on a territory with a total area of ​​4.2 thousand square meters. meters in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It consists of four buildings - a cultural center on Quai Branly, an educational complex on rue Universitet, an administrative building on rue Rapp and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

The Russian cultural and spiritual complex on the banks of the Seine, which President Vladimir Putin previously planned to open, is forced to strengthen security and abandon public events. The Parisian police recently warned the management of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, recently built in the center of Paris, about possible terrorist attacks on its territory. This was reported to RT by the clergyman of the church, Father Nikolai Nikishin. The Russian temple, the construction of which lasted about two years, was going to be inaugurated on October 19. “The police advised us to limit the number of invitees,” Father Nikolai told RT. – Therefore, we will increase security, and on October 19 we will simply begin work. The temple will open as part of a cultural and spiritual complex.” At the same time, the center’s employees try not to take threats “too seriously.” “We are pious people and strive to take warnings more simply, so as not to create tension,” the priest explained. The priest of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Alexander Sinyakov, believes that politics may actually be behind the “terrorist threats”. “Parisians and the French clergy supported the opening of the center,” Sinyakov explained to RT. – But politicians, apparently, were against the opening of a large Russian center in the very center of Paris. Although the church has nothing to do with politics.” French MP Thierry Mariani also believes that threats against ministers and future parishioners of the cathedral are directly related to Russia’s actions in Syria.

A Russian Orthodox cultural and spiritual center has been opened near the Eiffel Tower in France. The ensemble consists of four buildings, the main one of which is the Church of the Holy Trinity. The Center is a branch of the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in Paris and has a Center - branch of the diplomatic mission

On the first day of work, two exhibitions will open there, dedicated to the history of the construction of the center and Russian-French relations.

The center is in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower, the Branly Museum, the Grand Palais and the Paris Museum of Modern Art.

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One of the most beautiful cultural centers in the world, Paris has also become the spiritual Mecca of Europe. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism - such different and sometimes contradictory religions coexist harmoniously on the streets of the most romantic metropolis.

Recently, among many churches, an Orthodox spiritual and cultural center has been located in the capital of France.

The beginning of the story

The decision to build a Russian Center in Paris came from Patriarch Alexy II. On one of his visits to the world capital of romance, His Holiness noted that the number of Orthodox Parisians has increased significantly in recent years. The former church could no longer accommodate so many parishioners, which means that the High Hierarch had to take care of his flock.

Of course, the issue of constructing a new sanctuary on the territory of a foreign, albeit friendly, state had to be resolved at the state level. Immediately after the visit, Alexy II petitioned the presidents of both countries.

Thus, having secured the approval of the heads of Russia and France, His Holiness the Patriarch initiated the process of building a modern Orthodox church in Paris.

Complex structure

The center of Orthodox culture cannot definitely be called a pagoda for prayer. The plans of the clergy were to create a full-fledged complex where Orthodox Christians could take care not only of the immortal soul, but also of their cultural enlightenment.

Thus, on the territory of the mission there are several buildings: the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, a bilingual Russian-French school, an exhibition center and service buildings for staff.

It is interesting that the building of the Russian spiritual and cultural center in Paris received the legal status of an integral part of the Russian Embassy, ​​which means it has the same rights and privileges as the official representative office.

Diplomatic immunity helped, at one time, to avoid the Orthodox complex from seizing land assets. The conflict arose in 2015, when former shareholders of the Yukos oil company decided to use judicial exequatur and ban development on the left bank of the Seine.

Search and acquisition of land

Several years passed from the idea to the first stone laid. The first problem that the project organizers faced was the lack of a suitable plot of land in Paris. It was important for the diocese that the center occupy the most advantageous location for the Orthodox diaspora.

And so, in 2009, the city council put the ideal site up for sale. The meteorological station building, located on the central Quai Branly, was being prepared for demolition. Of course, there were many who wanted to get a tasty morsel on the banks of the Seine. The advantageous location in the heart of the French capital, the nearby Eiffel Tower, the Museum of Primitive Art and the Alma Palace made such an acquisition a profitable investment for many states.

To avoid accusations of bias in the decision, the French authorities announced a competition for the acquisition of land in the central district of Paris. At the end of the auction, the main potential buyers were Russia, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Of course, the results of the auction were influenced not only by the amounts used by the representatives of the three states. Not the least role in the decision was played by the friendly relations between the presidents of Russia and France, as well as the desire to strengthen the spiritual and historical ties of the two nations.

Thus, in February 2010, following the results of a tender, the project “Opening of the Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris” was approved. The future complex for Orthodox Parisians now has an exact address: 1 Quai Branly.

Secrets and mysteries of the future complex

When a matter becomes of national importance, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes intrigue. This time, the “secrets of the Madrid court” touched upon such a seemingly godly matter.

It must be admitted that not everyone was confident that the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center would be able to accept. Some members of the city commune openly opposed the construction of the complex, citing the fact that the new architectural structure would not fit into the historical appearance of the capital.

There are rumors that, in order to resolve this issue, the Russian special services had to launch Operation Cathedral. We are unlikely to know how the special agents convinced the French authorities that the decision was correct. It is only obvious that, as a result of a secret operation, the officials managed to come to a mutual agreement.

Another reason for rumors was the amount that Russia invested in the purchase of Parisian land. Since the financial results of the tender agreement remained a secret to the public, local media had the opportunity to fantasize about this topic. According to various estimates, influential French publications published amounts ranging from 60 to 170 million euros.

Competition for the best architectural project

When the first difficulties had passed, a period of, so to speak, pleasant troubles began: the formation of an evaluation jury and the organization of a construction design competition.

More than 400 architects took part in the tender. Each of the participants understood that the name of the winner will forever go down in the history of Russian-French relations.

As members of the jury later expressed, the first round of the competition was stunning. 109 projects that met all the commission’s requirements were accepted for consideration. There was a lot of work ahead.

Each project for the construction of an Orthodox church was interesting in its own way. Russian architects saw the future of the Holy Church in a classic Orthodox style. While the Russian spiritual and cultural center expected to see Paris more modern, corresponding to the basic architectural idea of ​​the city. The innovative views of the Franks sometimes acquired intricate forms, for example, a temple “wrapped in paper” or in the form of a burning candle.

After lengthy twists and turns, disputes and doubts, the evaluation jury selected several, in their opinion, the most interesting proposals. The top three were the French architect Frédéric Borel, the urban interior designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte from France, and the Spanish urban designer Manuel Nunez-Yanovsky.

As a result, the main plan for the construction of the Orthodox center was the idea of ​​​​Jean-Michel Wilmotte. But more on that later.

Project difficulties

In fact, there were two architects in the history of the creation of the spiritual complex. In March 2011, according to the results of the competition, Manuel Nunez-Yanovsky received the leadership palm. His plan was based on the ideas of postmodernity - connecting the incompatible. It was planned to erect a temple with a classical, Orthodox base, covered with a glass cover and domes. The entire transparent part of the structure, at night, was supposed to be illuminated with golden light.

The daring project of the Spanish architect caused a flurry of emotions. Someone called it “a combination of Orthodox traditions and modernity.” Others joked that Nunez-Yanovsky was trying to bring to life the Tale of Tsar Saltan, A.S. Pushkin.

“An island lies on the sea,
There is a city on the island
With golden-domed churches,
With towers and gardens"

The project also had ardent opponents. Bertrand Delanoë, the then mayor of Paris, began to argue that Nunez-Yanovsky’s project would not fit into the architectural surroundings of the entire area and would inevitably spoil the landscape on the Quai Branly.

The resistance of the city authorities was so strong that the issue affected not only historical traditions, but also the safety of the city. Even political motives were attributed to the provocative plan of the Spanish architect. The idea of ​​​​building an Orthodox center in Paris became a stumbling block for the Western European Exarchate of the Russian peoples.

Without waiting for the problem to develop into an international scandal, the Russian government terminated the contract with Manuel Nunez-Yanovsky. Thus, the palm of leadership passed to the second finalist of the competition - Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

From dreams to obvious reality

In the spring of 2013, Jean-Michel began developing a new plan for the construction of the Russian Orthodox Cultural Center. This time, the architect carefully studied the mistakes made by his predecessor and took into account the recommendations and wishes of the city authorities. However, the main consultant in the design of the new complex was His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

As a result of such unanimous cooperation, the city planner was able to develop a plan that satisfied both the Russian Patriarchate and the Parisian department.

In December, the head of the city department approved the drawings and signed a development permit.

In April 2015, literally a kilometer from the Eiffel Tower, a ceremony was held to lay the sacred stone for the Church of the Holy Trinity. The entire Orthodox elite gathered for the solemn event, led by the Bishop of the Korsun diocese, Nestor. The idea of ​​building a Russian spiritual and cultural Orthodox center in Paris is no longer just a dream.

Features of the Orthodox Center

Construction of the complex lasted almost two years. Not everything went smoothly this time either. Twice representatives of YUKOS tried to stop construction, claiming their rights to a plot of land allocated for the construction of an Orthodox church. And twice the Paris court rejected the shareholders' claims, guided by the diplomatic immunity of Russian real estate.

By the end of the summer of 2016, construction and facing work came to an end, and the center of Orthodox culture in Paris shone on the Quai Branly in all its splendor.
The ensemble, as expected, consists of several buildings. The center of Christian culture and two exhibition halls overlook the Seine embankment.

Near Rappa Avenue there is the Church of the Holy Trinity, as well as administrative buildings and office premises. On the Alma Palace side there are educational premises for a primary school, capable of accommodating up to 150 students.

Landscape designer Louis Benes took care of the green part of the Orthodox center. An experienced reconstructor of the Tuileries Garden, the architect developed a planting plan that not only corresponds to the typical planting scheme for Paris, but also replicates the natural flora of the Russian plains.

The main event of Paris in autumn 2016

The official opening of the Russian Orthodox Center in Paris took place in October 2016. As expected, there were many guests who wanted to join the solemn event. Representatives of the clergy, ambassadors and authorized delegates, politicians and ministers, public figures, descendants of Russian emigration and Orthodox parishioners, and representatives of the international press gathered for the holiday.

It seems that this is one of the few cases when a new building has become not just a center of world and public attention, but an occasion to gather under its roof people of various religions, political beliefs and historical views.

Despite numerous obstacles, the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Russian Orthodox Spiritual Center in Paris harmoniously fit into the general architectural mood of the capital. The appearance of a new building on the left bank of the Seine was another advantage in the city of religious values.

The Orthodox French received a new parish and the opportunity to maintain the cultural traditions of Christianity, and the city authorities received another historically significant object.

Located at the very epicenter of the tourist route, the Orthodox complex has become a new pearl of the cultural capital of Europe.

Russian spiritual and cultural center in Paris Photo

Photo gallery of the Russian Spiritual Center in Paris

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Jean-Michel Wilmotte (Jean-Michel Wilmotte)

Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center

On October 19, the doors of the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center open to its first visitors in Paris. The complex of buildings, the jewel of which is the five-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, has been erected on the Quai Branly in the historical center of the French capital since 2014.

About the history of the project and the progress of its implementation - in the TASS material.

"Project of all Parisians"

The Office of the President of the Russian Federation acquired the site for the construction of the Center in 2010. In the tender for its purchase, Russia beat out Canada and Saudi Arabia. Direct work on the construction of the complex began in 2014.

Four objects are located on a territory with a total area of ​​4.2 thousand square meters. In addition to the Orthodox church, the center’s buildings will house an exhibition center, a school, as well as a diocesan administration building with a concert hall and living quarters for priests and employees of the cultural section of the Russian Embassy.

The authors of the project faced the difficult task of fitting the new building into the architectural landscape, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. After all, the Eiffel Tower is nearby, the most visited tourist site in France, as well as historical palaces and museums, notes the mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris, Rachida Dati.

“It is symbolic that just a few hundred meters upstream the Seine is linked by the famous Pont Alexandre III,” Duthie said. The bridge across the main waterway of the capital, considered the most beautiful in Paris, was built in 1896-1900 to commemorate the union of France and Russia, at the origins of which was this Russian Tsar.

Here, not far from the construction site of the Orthodox center, runs Franco-Russian Avenue, so named in the last century as a sign of friendship between the two peoples. Now this road leads to the Temple.

"Continuation of the city"

The center is located on the site of the former headquarters of the French national meteorological service Meteo-France. Until 2010, its headquarters occupied several heavy administrative buildings built immediately after the Second World War between 1948 and 1950. The weather bureau buildings were completely demolished after the land passed into Russian ownership. As a result, a view of the ancient Alma Palace located next door opened up, part of which had long been hidden from the view of passers-by behind the heavy walls of the Meteo-France headquarters.

The selection of the architectural project took several years. The model of the Spanish architect Manuel Nunez-Yanovsky won the competition in 2011. But his concept did not suit the Paris mayor's office. The city authorities came to the conclusion that in this form the Center would be dissonant with the urban planning ensemble.

The author of the new project was the outstanding French architect Jean-Michel Wilmot. In his work, he was, among other things, guided by the desire to preserve the newly discovered perspective of the Alma Palace, trying to fit the new complex of modern buildings made of glass and metal as organically as possible into the fabric of the historical development of this part of Paris.

Jean-Michel Wilmot

Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov is convinced that the opening of the Orthodox center on the Quai Branly will be a landmark event for the Russian diaspora.

Alexander Orlov

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Cover photos: AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Dominique Boutin/TASS. Also used: EPA/HORACIO VILLALOBOS, AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere.

Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center (Paris)

Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center(fr. Center Spirituel et Culturel Russe ) in Paris - a complex of buildings planned for construction, a future venue for cultural events of the Russian community in Paris, a space for introducing Parisians to Russian culture. The buildings of the center will be located at the address: France, Paris, Quai Branly, no. 1. Organizer: Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

Project competition

At the final of the project competition, 10 out of more than a hundred applicants received the right to present their works. Applicants had to offer their vision of the future center, which should include an Orthodox church, a seminary, a library, and auditoriums for holding meetings of the Russian community and introducing Parisians to Orthodox culture.

Description of the center

The Russian spiritual and cultural center in Paris was conceived by the authors as a multifunctional cultural, entertainment, spiritual and educational complex, the main purpose of which is to create more favorable conditions for the cultural self-identification of the Russian-speaking population in France and on the south-eastern borders of Russia.

The complex of the Russian spiritual and cultural center will consist of three main zones located around the Orthodox Temple - the Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church in Paris and the central garden.

Orthodox church

The central element of the Russian spiritual and cultural center is the Orthodox Church. The main entrance to it is located on the western side from a large garden-square laid out in the central part of the site. The temple is elevated on the ground floor, and the area around the temple is used for religious processions.

In the ground floor under the Temple building there is a lower Temple, which, together with the main Temple, can be used for baptismal ceremonies, weddings and funeral ceremonies. The entrance to the cathedral will be from the Alma Palace through the gate between the buildings. The interior decoration of the temple will correspond to Orthodox canons. The walls of the Temple are planned to be painted with frescoes in the icon painting style. In the niches of the external facades it is proposed to create mosaic panels in the Byzantine and Old Russian traditions.

Central Garden

The central garden according to the project is located immediately behind the main entrance to the territory of the spiritual and cultural center and is located on several terraces, gradually descending towards the Alma Palace and framing the cathedral square in front of the southern and western facades of the Temple.

Building on the Quai Branly

According to the project, the new building on the Quai Branly will include a multifunctional hall for holding concerts, exhibitions, receptions and conferences. The building on the Quai Branly is organically connected with the complex of buildings facing Rapp Boulevard into a single functional complex providing cultural and educational activities, training and popularization of the Russian cultural and spiritual heritage.

Building on the corner of Rapp Boulevard and University Street

The building at the corner of Rapp Boulevard and University Street is planned to be reconstructed and adapted for administrative, residential, educational and business functions. This block of center premises will have an independent entrance from the corner of University Street and Rapp Boulevard.

A kilometer from the Eiffel Tower on the banks of the Seine, on Wednesday, October 19, a “window from Paris” opened: the Russian spiritual and cultural center and the Holy Trinity Cathedral. From now on, you can feel like you are on Russian soil in the very heart of the French capital: the complex is located at the intersection of Quai Branly and Avenue Rapp.

The center is part of the Russian Embassy in France; however, not only Russians, but also citizens of other countries with a passport can get there. For compatriots in the near future, exhibition spaces and an auditorium for 200 people, recreation areas with a library and a cafe, a primary school for 150 students and, of course, a 36-meter Orthodox church should also be operational. It is symbolic that the path to the temple lies through Franco-Russian Avenue, so named in 1911.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was supposed to open the cultural center, but his visit was at the last minute, so the delegation led by Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky and Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov took the rap for it. At the opening ceremony, Medinsky read out the president’s greeting: “The creation of this unique complex has become visible evidence of the strength of Russian-French cultural and humanitarian ties, the mutual desire of the peoples of our countries for constructive dialogue and cooperation.” In its turn

a representative of Patriarch Kirill promised that “daily prayer for Russia, for France and for friendship between our peoples will be performed in this temple.”

Franco-Russian ties in the context of the construction of a center in the 7th arrondissement of Paris look rather complicated. They first started talking about construction six and a half years ago. Then Russia, having overtaken Saudi Arabia and Canada in terms of budget generosity, bought 4245 square meters. m of elite Parisian land at the highest rates. A competition was announced for the design of the center, which was won by the architect Nunez-Yanovskoy and the Moscow bureau Archgroup.

Photo report: Russian spiritual and cultural Orthodox center in Paris

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According to the design, the building looked like a “wave church” made of glass and concrete, and, according to former French President Jacques Chirac, it was supposed to become “a bridge connecting peoples spiritually.” But despite the fact that the agreement on the implementation of the project was signed by Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy, the “wave” did not become any kind of bridge. The former mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, protested on behalf of all Parisians, so in order not to “spoil the appearance of Paris and not overshadow the Eiffel Tower,” it was decided to reconsider the project.

Three years later, the new presidents of both countries agreed on a new architect and a new friendship, which the temple should symbolize. The French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who repeatedly worked in Russia, implemented a project that was much more modest and smaller in area (the buildings occupy only half of the land plot). Construction began in the spring of 2015: the project is estimated at €170 million. Stop the process then tried former YUKOS shareholders who claimed their rights to a tasty piece of land. However, according to the final decision of the French court, the site, which has diplomatic immunity, was entirely at the disposal of the Russian government.

The embankments of the Seine are recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the façade of the Holy Trinity Cathedral with its five golden domes automatically becomes a cultural symbol of the city.

Architect Wilmotte took the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow as a basis, but was forced to replace the shiny gold of the onion domes with matte gold.

and the facades will be finished with Burgundy stone, used for the construction of iconic buildings in the capital of France.

The new mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, agreed to such a quantity of gold in her city primarily because the Moscow Patriarchate had previously been forced to huddle in a small church. The Church of the Three Saints in the unremarkable 15th arrondissement on Rue Petelles was converted from a garage and could not accommodate the Orthodox Parisians, who grew in number every year and who were forced to stand on the street during church holidays. In turn, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Daru Street in the 8th arrondissement of Paris has existed for more than two centuries and can easily accommodate the Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, the temple, glorified by emigration poets, still cannot be called a showcase of modern Russia.

Ordinary French people, who usually know three words in Russian - “Putin”, “vodka”, “oligarch”, and who are little familiar with Orthodox culture, characterize the new center with the same words: “Putin’s temple, the money of the oligarchs.” However, our compatriots who visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or about 20 other existing churches and cathedrals in the Paris region also treat the new center with indignation, calling it a temple of luxury in conversations with Gazeta.Ru.

Religious expert Jean-François Colosimo compared spiritual center with something bulky and out of place:

“Until recently, I would have called this project a wedding gift, but over time this gift has become completely unnecessary, marginal, even superfluous and disturbing.”

A prominent historian in the field of Orthodoxy, Antoine Arzhakovsky, considers the project of a cultural center on the Quai Branly “strange and controversial.” Even though church and state are separate in Russia, the new temple “mixes religion and politics a stone's throw from the Elysee Palace and the Foreign Ministry,” Arzhakovsky said.

Also, some French media, which devoted the front pages on October 11 to photographs of Vladimir Putin and articles about the cancellation of the visit of the Russian president, today note, that “the cultural center, instead of a symbol of Russian-French friendship, became rather a symbol of quarrel.”

Next door on the Quai Branly is the Museum of Primitive Art of the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Oceania and America. For a complete diversity of cultures, only Eastern Europe was missing. Now the embankment of one of the most prestigious areas of Paris opens up a full perspective of cultures where Russia is ahead of the rest.

The French associate the golden domes of the new Orthodox church primarily with the powerful influence of the Russian president on the world community. Local media write that “Vladimir Putin installed an Orthodox church in the heart of Paris, thereby communicating the place his country occupies in the world.” Other media frankly called The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the “new Kremlin on the Seine”, “Putin’s temple” or “temple of propaganda”. French experts also claim, that “the permissiveness of the Russian government has no boundaries,” and the construction of the temple “has nothing to do with religion, but exclusively with diplomacy.”

Only one are consoled The French “offended by Putin”: on the site of the Orthodox church, another mosque could have risen long ago, because it was Saudi Arabia that had the most claims to the site to which Franco-Russian Avenue leads.