The Russian Orthodox Church plans to build a new church in Chelyabinsk. Residents of the area are protesting.

The Russian Orthodox Church plans to build a new church near the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. The ground was already blessed on July 14, and a prayer service was held at the same time. The church will be named after the Prophet Nahum.

At a meeting with authorities, residents of the area opposed the plan, emphasizing that they wanted to preserve the area for walks and leisure. A public garden was recently created on the site allocated for the church's construction.

"Don't take this green oasis away from us! We want to breathe!" the residents begged the official.
"How will the temple interfere with your breathing?" they heard in response.

The authorities emphasize that the church construction issue has not been fully resolved: there is no project plan or cost estimate. However, city media outlets remind active citizens that the land designated for the church is city property, and "residents' opinions are just that—opinions."

Residents of the regions are increasingly protesting the construction of churches in inappropriate locations. For example, in Ryazan, part of Gagarin Park is slated for a church; in Novosibirsk, a church is proposed to be built on a site where residents are requesting a school; and in Krasnodar, the diocese has proposed building a huge church complex in the neighborhood's only green space—Rozhdestvenskaya Embankment.