Patriarch Kirill blesses Statue of St. Olga of Kiev near tallest structure In Europe

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia blessed a beautiful monument to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Olga of Kiev last Sunday, reports the journal Foma. The statue is located in the Ostankino district of Moscow, within view of the tallest free-standing structure in Europe, and 11th tallest in the world—the Ostankino Tower.

The unveiling of the monument and a church in honor of the holy Princess was timed to coincide with the 1050th anniversary of her repose, which is celebrated in 2019, reports the website of the Moscow Patriarchate. The primate of the Church blessed the monument after celebrating the Liturgy in the church. The monument was created by the sculptor Natalya Opiok.

The Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga in Ostankino (Novomoskovskaya St., 4) was erected as part of the “Program 200,” which aims to build enough churches in Moscow so that everyone has one within walking distance.

The complex, consisting of two churches (a wooden church of the Holy Martyr John Vostorgov, and the stone church of Princess Olga, as well as the parish house), is an adornment of the Ostankino district, and a spiritual center for its inhabitants.

A picturesque plot of land was chosen for the church project, located near a densely-populated residential area with good transport accessibility.

The church was built in the best traditions of ancient Russian architecture, with five domes, and a tent-shaped peak and belfry.

On February 17, 2019, with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Arseniy of Istra (now - Metropolitan of Lipetsk and Zadonsk) celebrated the rite of the greater blessing for the church

Source: Orthochristian.com