That day, the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas opens its doors to visitors after a long period during which the management of this magnificent site was limited to solely religious functions.
We are all familiar with the story of the conflict between the Nice association that managed this place of worship and historical site for several decades and the Russian Federation, which claimed ownership after an equally long period of neglect.
The court has ruled, and even though a decision by Cassation is yet to be made.
Nice Premium followed this case with great interest, giving voice to both parties.
On this occasion, we give the floor to Zacharie Van Goey and leave it to our readers to appreciate his remarks or not.
Who should be ashamed?
For more than ninety years, during the Soviet and post-Soviet era, the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, better known as the Russian Church of Nice, has over the years risen to the rank of the most visited site in the city of Nice.
For six months now, at the cost of some legal and republican contortions, French justice has likely under influence, decided that in the name of state reasoning, it was appropriate to recognize the Russian Federation as the owner of this heritage nestled in our neighborhoods, maintained until now by the ACOR (Russian Orthodox Cultural Association), France, the Region, the Department, and the City of Nice.
The change is radical!
Until now, to the great dismay of the Tourist Office, this place was off-limits to visitors, whether they were locals or had traveled halfway across the world to admire this landmark that still features prominently and occupies several pages in all the world’s tourist guides.
Only worshippers recognized by Moscow and filtered by the officer on duty have the possibility to pass through the closed gates into this space. They are given the passport to attend a service. It is said that part of these individuals served as bodyguards to the Russian Federation delegation that was in Cannes at the end of last year.
Contrary to what many believe, this land is no longer French, those who pass through the gate are now in “Russia,” as those individuals, all muscle, dressed in black, with a strong Eastern accent, and exuding a coldness foreign to the Mediterranean culture, assert in their martial attitudes and uncompromising language to those daring to venture into foreign land, that they have no business being there.
It even happens that those “authorized” yesterday become “prohibited” today; a sanction imposed by force by a member of this “new” clergy dispatched by Moscow to “re-adjust” everyone.
Clerics of all faiths are generally attributed words and actions synonymous with love for one’s neighbor. It is difficult to imagine that these men of “kindness” could indulge in inappropriate words, sometimes associated with physical violence that would have deserved complaints being filed; but the aura, fear, or something else ensured that hostilities stopped there.
Nonetheless, going from over one hundred thousand visitors to zero in just a few months is an achievement that would deserve to be in the Guinness World Records.
How did we get here?
In truth, it required long experience forged at the dawn of Soviet-era methods to hope for such success. Sign of the times perhaps, a hint of humanity now shelters from weather, cold or heat these “Cerberus.” It takes the form of a wooden bungalow resembling more a Swiss chalet than a dacha. A construction that awkwardly fits into this unique urban landscape once very actively protected by those who were not hesitated to be driven out; called merchants of the temple even!
At that time, still quite recent, the Church was a meeting place and conviviality entirely integrated into the neighborhood’s life. In addition to services and ceremonies, multilingual cultural conferences were held here every Wednesday. They introduced the curious to the situation at the beginning of the last century, the challenges presiding over the birth of this place, and the various adventures that marked the unique route of this heritage from its genesis to today.
Of any faith someone might be, whoever entered here was welcomed with respect, there were even children’s laughter in the gardens surrounding the building. Certainly, those wishing to visit the interior had to pay a three Euros oblation. Moscow having overshadowed the financial needs of this cross-border place of worship, revenues had to be gathered to ensure the essential maintenance of the building and guarantee the salaries of the nine employees in charge of the site’s management or security who are now all laid-off, which leads some to say: “it was the good old days!”
Back in its day, the Cathedral was built by companies and materials mainly from France, and even Italy for some, like the majolica adorning its façade. It was the Tsar’s will who, in this striving, claimed to want to integrate the building and Russian colony into Nice’s microcosm.
The current atmosphere seems to head in an opposite direction, everything leads to believe. The major restoration project that Moscow and the “new clergy” intend to carry out will only call upon companies and materials from the Russian Federation, no tender was issued in the region.
We can bet that Mr. Architect of the Buildings of France and Mr. Deputy Mayor in charge of Heritage, who besides professes to whoever wants to hear that “he doesn’t rest on Nice’s heritage,” won’t be too much to ensure that the quality of the service that this monument requires due to its specificity attached to a national heritage classification wanted by France for several decades now is respected.
Little by little, whether at access levels or restoration levels, one sees that the two integration policies wanted on one hand by Tsar Nicholas II and his… “successor” Vladimir are resolutely opposed.
Still, everyone agrees that everything will be ready for the centenary commemoration of the Cathedral. But is that certain?
Meanwhile, the ACOR with its Priests, Faithful, and Choir has relocated to premises kindly made available by the heads of a Catholic School in Nice, while the rehabilitation work finishes and allows them to reintegrate the Church Saint Nicholas and Saint Alexandra located on Rue Longchamp in Nice.
You can see that the climate is serene, relaxed, and that Christian harmony exists… except beyond what was once the iron curtain; so, who should be ashamed?
