Department for External Church Relations
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Russian Orthodox Church given land for building a church in Madrid
An agreement on the allotment of a plot of land to the Russian Orthodox Church for building a church was signed in the Madrid City Council on July 9, 2010. The plot of 756 square meters is situated in a prestigious part of the city near the Pinar del Rey metro station.
The Russian Orthodox Parish of St. Mary Magdalene was founded in Madrid in 1761 under Envoy N. Repnin. It lasted till 1882. In the post-war period, there was a Chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the house belonging to the Russian Imperial family in Madrid.
The Parish of the Nativity of Christ was founded in 2001, but to this day the divine services have been celebrated in a former furniture workshop.
The need for a church has been discussed for a long time but a breakthrough happened after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Spain in March 2009. Ms. Medvedev visited the Parish of the Nativity of Christ on March 1, 2009. During the visit Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón promised to decide the issue of allotting some land to the Russian Orthodox Church for building a church.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, a Nativity of Christ Foundation has been registered with the Spanish Ministry of Culture. It is headed by the rector of the parish, Rev. Andrey Kordochkin. Its Patrons Board includes Archbishop Innocent of Korsun, Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, Moscow Patriarch secretary for institutions abroad, and Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who lives in Madrid.
The church is to be designed by local architect Jesus San Vicente in cooperation with well-known Moscow architect A. Vorontsov who designed the Russian Orthodox church in Havana.
The agreement provides for tough deadlines: within 6 months after the title of land is registered, a construction license is to be requested and within 2 months after it is obtained the construction should start to be completed within 24 months after its beginning.
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