The authorities transferred the Russian Orthodox Church of the XII century from the UNESCO World Heritage List

The Transfiguration Cathedral of the Spaso-Mirozhsky Monastery Ensemble and fraternal cells were withdrawn from the operational management of the Pskov Museum-Reserve and transferred to the ROC, the museum said in a press release. According to the text of the statement, consultations are underway between the Pskov Museum-Reserve and the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church on the preservation and popularization of the XII century Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral and the preservation of the ensemble and fresco painting of the XII century will be carried out by the Russian Orthodox Church “taking into account the half-century experience of the Pskov Museum in maintaining the necessary temperature and humidity regime.” The museum-reserve noted that “activities for the preservation and promotion of the UNESCO object will be built in the mode of interaction and coordination with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of the Pskov region”.

RBC sent requests to the head of the legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Ksenia Chernega and UNESCO. The press service of the government of the Pskov region told RBC that the issue of transfer of property is “out of the competence of the government”, since the Pskov Museum-Reserve is a federal cultural institution. RBC sent a request to the Ministry of Culture.

The Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery was built in the XII century and is known for its fresco ensemble. As indicated on the website of the museum-reserve, “in the late medieval period, the frescoes, darkened by dirt, dampness and soot, were whitewashed”, by the second half of the XIX century. the fresco ensemble was investigated by restorers. In the XX century, "periodically carried out work on the disclosure of ancient fresco painting and strengthening the plaster and colorful layer." In 1982, open funds were created “in compliance with all rules and standards of storage (ventilation, heating, temperature and humidity measurements)”, and the cathedral was opened for visitors, “but in strict accordance with weather conditions and temperature and humidity regime”. In 1992, works on the restoration of fresco painting in the Transfiguration Cathedral began, "which continue to this day.".

In recent years, museums have donated a number of buildings and famous icons to the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2023, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra was transferred to the Trinity by Andrei Rublev. In April 2026, the Tretyakov Gallery transferred the Russian Orthodox Church to the gratuitous use of the icon “Our Lady of Vladimir” of the first third of the XII century and “Our Lady of Donskaya” of the end of the XIV century.

In March, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Moscow region told RBC that the Russian Orthodox Church transferred to the gratuitous use of the Tsaritsyn chamber of Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery. Previously, the object was in use of the Zvenigorod Museum-Reserve. The museum reported that “for more than a century he stayed within the walls of the monastery, protecting its ancient monuments from destruction, preserving its relics, saving the memory of the events of its history from oblivion.” The ministry explained that the object was transferred in connection with the appeal of the Russian Orthodox Church and on the basis of the federal law on the transfer of religious property to religious organizations.