Monastery not to be turned into hotel :: Charter'97 :: News

Planning and surveying works on rebuilding the former St. Bernard’s monastery into a hotel have been suspended in Minsk , runs the reply of the committee on architecture and city building at the Minsk city executive council to the group appeal of the public activists of Mozyr signed by 2 thousand people.

The appeal for defense of the monastery complex and St. Joseph’s Catholic church in Cyril and Methodius Street of the capital was sent by the activists 1 August. The answer was received 28 August. It runs that “presently the planning and surveying works on rebuilding of the houses at 4,6,8 Cyril and Methodius Street in Minsk into a hotel and trade and public catering facilities have been suspended “.

As coordinator of the organizing committee for creation of the “Belarusian Christian Democracy” party in the Gomel region Pavel Nazdra reported it was also mentioned in the reply about the possible re- profiling of the complex into the historical and cultural facility.

It is to be mentioned that the actions in support of the monastery complex and St. Joseph’s church have been taken in Minsk for several years. The Belarusian Catholics and believers of other confessions frequent the church premises to pray for its returning to the Catholic congregation. Dozen thousand signatures under the appeal for the church protection were sent to Lukashenka. Cultural and public figures of Belarus sent their appeal to the Pope of Rome Benedict XVI for helping them in their attempts of retuning the church to the Catholics.