Церковная старина в современной России

In this period the new government strategy is in search of financial flows for the restoration due to the position of Ministry of economic developments and Federal agency on management of federal property that neglects the needs of cultural life. Alongside with this apart from economic aspect, as a result of ongoing democratic reforms, the transfer of the real estate and monuments to Russian Orthodox Church has got the political significance. Authorities grant material resources and means of influence to their main ideological partner and the Orthodoxy in a new fundamentalist version begins to play a role of national ideology in the society. For this purpose, the cultural heritage and its interpretation are transformed to conformity with political needs. It is obvious, that the main threat to monuments of religious culture today is connected not with their physical destruction, but with conscious purposeful changes of theirs cultural-historical shape that needs to be protected according to the law and historical memory. This process is in keeping with aesthetic and every day life preferences of modern orthodox mentality that, unfortunately, is shared by significant part of society and bureaucracy. It is necessary to note the aspirations of several social groups, namely clergy and functionaries, to change the national legislation in the area of protection of cultural heritage.

The controversy between the Moscow patriarchy and museums on the status of former ecclesiastical propriety and the right of possession of sacred art objects could not be regarded only as the argument based on interest of owners. Museum community really worries about the status and safety of monuments and sites. The situation in this field is unfavorable today and its development was influenced by following objective factors. Among the political factors I note the contradictions between the representatives of federal and regional authorities, so-called «parade of sovereignties» in Russia, when the church buildings were transferred to the Church without previous consultation with Ministry of culture specialists.

In 2010 a new law is being drawn up on the restitution of ecclesiastical property including cultural monuments of federal importance which privatization is strictly forbidden. According to governmental representatives, the state is getting rid of its Soviet heritage in terms of confiscated church property but it is not restitution itself, only a goodwill gesture. According to experts this project may only legitimate the chaotic privatization of masterpieces of Orthodox art by religious communities without any cultural heritage protection and civil control over using of monumental architecture that could lead to its loss and inaccessibility for non-religious people.

In the same time Russian government in 2001–2010 tried to use the moral authority and propaganda opportunities of the Moscow patriarchy for the support of internal and foreign policy in exchange for property return. On social lifelevel there exists public pragmatism which gives preference to instant economic benefit over complex and expensive actions on cultural heritage objects preservation. At the same time there exists the loop of law in the sphere of protection and use of monuments and sites. Today in Russian Federation we can see degradation of monument protection system and lack of personal responsibility of officials for such protection. Unfortunately, the museums in Russian Federation are a close and inert system; they are incapable of preventive measures dealing with religious organizations. They are equally incapable of old-fashioned expositions re-structuring and of involving the public, including Christian, in their activity.