Our interlocutor is the executive director of the Foundation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Sergei Grigorievich Semenenko.

– Sergey Grigorievich, when was the Foundation established and when did you start working there?

–  The Foundation was established on September 7, 1994. It was then called the Foundation for Financial Assistance for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. I started working there as a deputy director on February 1, 1995; I moved there from the Department of Public and Interregional Relations of the Moscow Government. At that time, the Foundation was to deal exclusively with collecting donations to finance the reconstruction of the Cathedral.

–  And did people donate?

–  At first, there were those who opposed the reconstruction of the Cathedral and argued that Russia back then, in 1994-1995, was in a difficult economic situation. However, when, it was at last decided to reconstruct the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, people began to donate actively. Many contributed with their pensions and salaries to the Foundation. There has not been a single region of Russia that did not take part in the reconstruction of the Cathedral. I am not talking about regional administrations, but about ordinary citizens, enterprises... We received donations to rebuild the Cathedral of Christ the Savior even from Chechnya, which was in a state of civil conflict at the time. But undoubtedly, the main contribution was made by Moscow enterprises and ordinary Muscovites. By the grace of God, the Cathedral was built in no time; in 2000, it was already finished.

–  What are the main tasks of the Foundation now?

–  The Foundation is a trustee manager, which ensures the uninterrupted operation of all the vital functions of the Cathedral, its technical operation, security, and the organization of events on the premises, in the Hall of Church Councils and inside the Cathedral. We are also responsible for the technology-related aspects of religious services conducted inside the main Orthodox Cathedral of the country.

The funding of the Cathedral is mixed, and it consists of the funds derived through the budgetary subsidy of the city of Moscow, as well as the Foundation’s own monies that it earns from to its economic activities. The events taking place in the Cathedral allow us to supplement the Cathedral’s budget.

– Sergey Grigorievich, you have the Bible on your desk...

–  About ten years ago, I made a rule for myself to read one chapter from the Holy Scripture every day.

–  At what age were you baptized? What was “your path to the Cathedral”?

–  I was 27 years old. My decision was influenced by my first higher education degree. I graduated from the Department of History of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. I have always been interested in history. When I was a child, my grandfather, Leonid Grigorievich Semenenko, instilled in me a love for history. He was a lawyer, but all his life he was interested in history. He taught me to read historical literature, to be interested in national and world history. By studying history, I discovered faith and the understanding of God’s presence in our lives. My wife, as a woman of faith, also supported me in my decision to get baptized.

–  I remember how the Chief of the Cherokee tribe, who visited the Cathedral with me, was shocked to learn that previously there was a pool of water at the place of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior now stands... He kept asking several times because he could not believe it...

–  As students, we often walked along the riverfront around the Moscow pool area. Of course, we all knew that instead of the pool, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior used to stand at that place before. We were outraged by the barbaric decision of the Soviet government to destroy it. I am proud that by the grace of God I was able to participate in the restoration of one of the main symbols of Orthodox Russia.

–  How often do you manage to attend religious services at the Cathedral?

–  I try not to miss the services in which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill takes part. His Holiness the Patriarch is a very wise man, and you just have to listen to his sermons.

–  Sergey Grigorievich, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is also the most unique attraction of the capital that all the tourists want to visit. What would you recommend that they see first?

–  First, of course, the unique Patriarchal Museum of Church Art. His Holiness the Patriarch gave his blessing for the creation of the museum in the concourse of the Church of Transfiguration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where beautiful pieces and icons are exhibited. The Patriarch has been collecting these artefacts for many years. When the Museum of Church Art was put together, the Museum of History of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was restored with the personal support of the Mayor of Moscow Sergei Semenovich Sobyanin.

Not everyone knows that some of the structures remaining after the Moscow pool have survived. Among these is the old building of the pool’s management. We transformed this space and created an art gallery there, covering an area of approximately two thousand square meters...

Everyone will find something special at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

–  Thank you for the interview.