The decision to start the construction of the main temple in Murmansk was made at an installation meeting. The Governor of the region, Andrey Chibis, welcomed the participants and in his address noted that the Murmansk Region is an important economic, cultural and military outpost of Russia in its very north, on the border with Europe, and the construction of the cathedral will make the capital of the Arctic a powerful spiritual fortress on this important frontier.

- It is a great honor for Orthodox Northerners that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill blessed Murmansk for the construction of the cathedral and personally, delving into all the details, chose the appearance of the cathedral. Its construction will make the capital of the Arctic a powerful spiritual fortress at the most important turn. This is especially true when our historical, spiritual, and moral values, which make up the DNA of the Russian people, are under constant pressure from the outside. I am sincerely grateful to our partners, PhosAgro, for being the first of the major companies in the region to support the construction of a cathedral in the capital of the Russian Arctic. And I believe that the number of patrons of this project will only grow," the head of the region said.

Bishop of Naro–Fominsk, Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Nikander, Metropolitan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk Mitrofan, diocesan architect Svetlana Pionkovskaya, representatives of the regional government, Murmansk administration and PhosAgro company took part in the discussion of the issue, which is equally important for all – parishioners and clergy of the region.

Bishop of Naro-Fominsk, Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Nikander of Moscow and All Russia stressed that His Holiness attaches special importance to this project, which will become not just a cathedral, but the main spiritual symbol and spiritual center of the Russian Arctic.

- The Patriarch personally and the financial and economic management of the Russian Orthodox Church will oversee all processes – both design and construction. Of course, together with the administration of the region, our diocese, the metropolis. I am personally very glad that we are participants in a great historical event," said the vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

It was decided that the cathedral will be located on the site between the streets of Sofia Perovskaya and Captain Burkov.

Such a temple should have appeared at the beginning of the last century – Emperor Nicholas II planned the construction of the cathedral when he laid Romanov-on-Murman, and received a blessing for this from the Holy Synod in 1917. Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, the head of the Murmansk Metropolitanate, reminded the participants of this historical fact, surprising by coincidence of intentions.

- We are doing what the great people of our country once initiated. This project is a continuation of the history of the Russian state. So with God, in a good way, - wished the head of the Murmansk metropolia.

PhosAgro was the first major company in the region to support the construction of the cathedral in Murmansk. It has long been providing charitable assistance in the restoration and construction of Orthodox shrines not only in the Murmansk region, but also in the Saratov, Vologda, Leningrad regions - the regions of its presence.

- We are proud that it was in the Murmansk region, at our Kirov mine, with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, that the tradition of building factory temples was revived, - says Andrey Abrashitov, Director of the Kirov branch of Apatit JSC (PhosAgro Group). - Today he not only decorates the territory of the mine, but also helps us in life. We feel the care of our heavenly patron, we feel the prayers of the Patriarch, and it is they who help us to work honestly, overcome difficulties, and remain a leading company in our industry.

"PhosAgro is a company with an Orthodox spirit," Director Andrey Abrashitov stressed at the installation meeting. Now, according to him, the company will also support the construction of the cathedral in Murmansk - with deeds, forces and means.

The cathedral will become the center of the spiritual life of the region, the basis and base for events that will involve all northerners – the youth and the older generation, the clergy and those who are still taking the first steps on the path to faith. And, of course, the cathedral, built in the best traditions of Russian architecture, will become one of the architectural symbols of Murmansk, Russia's outpost in the Arctic. According to the construction plan, the new church will have to open its doors to parishioners in 2026.

According to the materials mvestnik.ru

Photo - © Irina Zdaronok / Lori Photobank