Moscow Mayor Office to Restore the Old Russik Monastery on Athos
July 6, 2010
Interfax
Moscow government will help restore the Old Russik, the oldest Russian monastery on Athos.
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov at his recent meeting with Athonite monks assured his guests that all the necessary works to restore the monastery would be completed shortly, the Department for External Church Relations Communication Service reported.
On Luzhkov's instruction, Moscow government delegation will visit the Holy Mount on Wednesday to coordinate all issues in question.
Luzhkov made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos early in June.
The Old Russik monastery is notable for the founder of Serbian Orthodox Church St. Sava took his monastic vows in it. The Russian monastery was moved to the sea, where it is now located, in the 17th century. The Old Russik was abandoned for a long time and now needs urgent restoration.
