Rustam Minnikhanov and Mintimer Shaimiev visit island town of Sviyazhsk

On October 12 Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and State Counsellor, Chairman of the Board of Guardians of Revival Foundation Mintimer Shaimiev visited island town of Sviyazhsk to see presentation of some Orthodox objects, - the Gateway Church of the Dormition Monastery, the Trinity Church, the brethren’s buildings, the Sergiev Church, the Holy Virgin Cathedral - Joy of All Who Sorrow of Ioanno-Predtechensky (John the Forerunner) Monastery after restoration works under the programme “Tatarstan cultural heritage: ancient town of Bolgar and island town of Sviyazhsk”.

Rustam Minnikhanov, Mintimer Shaimiev, Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Anastasy and other officials looked around the Gateway Church after restoration that is an object of federal importance. The building was restored by “Konstanta” contracting organisation at the expense of the Department of state non-departmental expert commission on building and architecture and Ak Bars holding company.

Later on honourable guests visited the Trinity Church where Tatar special research and restoration department and “Spetskauchukremstroi” finished restoration of icons. OAO ROSNANO was investor of restoration works.

The brethren’s buildings, architectural monument of the 19th century were also presented to the guests.

The Sergiev Church, where the ancient icon of Blessed Sergius of Radonezh is kept, is being restored at the expense of Zenit Bank.

A large amount of works was done at Holy Virgin Cathedral - Joy of All Who Sorrow with the help of investors OAO Sberbank of Russia, OAO Russian railways. A solemn awarding of participants of restoration works implemented at sacred places was held at this biggest Orthodox church on Sviyazhsk island.

Opening the event, Metropolitan Anastasy thanked everyone who contributed to restoration of churches. He presented the Order of Glory of Russian Orthodox Church to Mintimer Shaimiev on behalf of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill for work on revival of Orthodox sacred places under the programme “Tatarstan cultural heritage: ancient town of Bolgar and island town of Sviyazhsk”.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov presented Letters of Gratitude to Board Chairman of Zenit Bank Aleksey Sokolov, Senior Adviser to President of OAO Russian railways, Director of Charity Foundation Transsoyuz Vladimir Chernyshev.

Summing up, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked everyone for dedicated work and added that the award he received from Metropolitan Anastasy is dedicated to all people who took part in such uneasy, noble cause. He presented Letters of Gratitude of Revival Foundation and Book of benefactors to investors and contracting organisations.