Vladimir Putin has been the centralized figure in many articles reported here on The Inquisitr . Some have been popularly candid, such as his honoring in WWE and when he hoped Boyz II Men would increase fertility. On the other hand, some have been serious, which includes his treatment of homosexuals and his supposed link to MH17 .
However, new reports are coming in that Vladimir Putin is now building religious buildings in the Kremlin. This also has brought up questions from critics and numerous religious communities, especially those centered on Christianity, if Putin might be expressing his Russian Orthodox faith through his political position.
According to an article by Reuters , it reports that Vladimir Putin called up the rebuilding of a church and two monasteries that were demolished during the Soviet Union era. By cultivating strong ties with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, he is headlining the largest overhaul of the site’s architectural landscape in nearly a century. Also, this move suggests Putin is adopting more conservative policies, prompting some critics to suggest the line separating church and state has now blurred.
Restoration plans were pitched during a meeting on Tuesday when Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, along with top administrators of the Kremlin site. This would include the tearing down of a building used for administrative purposes to restore the site’s historic appearance. No indication of the cost of the project was given, which might be taken poorly among citizens because Russia’s economy has been teetering on the brink or recession and faces reduced access to foreign capital after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow’s policies in Ukraine.
However, another article by Charisma News suggests that Vladimir Putin’s plans for rebuilding religious buildings may not be in association with religion, but may just be part of honoring heritage. In order for the plan to go into effect, Putin needs the support of the Russian public and UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency. It also helps that the Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historically, the monasteries and church were destroyed back in 1929 to 1930, a time of religious persecution under the rule of Communist dictator, Josef Stalin. The reason was to make space for the administrative building which is ironically going to be destroyed to make space for the church and monasteries if the plan goes through. Also, Vladimir Putin wants to be clear this is not something to be insisted, but suggested in the following statement:
“I do not insist on anything, it’s an idea, a proposal. If the public deems it appropriate then all needs to be worked out calmly.”
What do you think about Vladimir Putin’s proposal to rebuild a church and two monasteries? Is it simply a return to cultural admiration of the past or is the Russian Prime Minister extending his faith through the guise of heritage appreciation? Let us know in the comments below.
[Images via Bing]
