Russian Church receives building permission for 'largest cathedral' beyond the Arctic Circle

The start of construction was announced at a press conference in Moscow. According to the head of the construction project group, Stepan Eliseev, the new cathedral will become the highest church building beyond the Arctic Circle — its height will be 68.6 meters, and its capacity will be up to a thousand people. However, in the documents published in a Murmansk regional portal, it was stated that the church is designed for 600 people.

Eliseev also confirmed that a construction permit has been obtained. However, in the list of issued construction permits published by the Murmansk Committee for Territorial Development and Construction, there is still no mention of the project's actual approval (at the time of publication of the article).

Also at the press conference, Metropolitan Naro-Fominsky Nikandr (Pilishin) stated that the Church hopes to complete the construction of the building within two to three years. He outlined that the project also includes "...a museum of naval history, a children's and sports playground, and a landscaped area with views of the city".

Metropolitan Nikandr, a prelate that stands close to Patriarch Kirill, also assured that the ones that decide to visit the cathedral by car "will not have to worry about where to park," as the project also includes a parking lot. A minimum of 12,500 square meters will be reserved for parking of 500 cars. 

The projected territory for the cathedral and adjacent buildings will be 12,000 square meters.

In the project documents on the Murmansk Region Portal, it is stated that an "integrated parking lot for visitors and employees of the complex" is planned for only 170 spaces.

The Murmansk church project has stirred heated debate over several years. Disputes between city residents and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church led to Metropolitan Mitrofan (Alexei Badanin, a former military officer, captain 2nd rank) in 2022 accusing the Murmansk administration of supporting "dark forces."

“They have got their team from the Dark Lord, and here are plenty of his compatriots, the city is full of them,” Mitrofan told his congregation, and added that the local power is “corrupt.”