In PARIS - A Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center just Opened with Celebrities

USPA NEWS - On October 19, 2016 was held the inauguration of the new Russian Spiritual and Cultural Centre in PARIS with celebrities, politicians of all borders (Right, Left and Extreme Right parties.), intellectuals and members of the Russian community. The location was at first the headquarters of....

On October 19, 2016 was held the inauguration of the new Russian Spiritual and Cultural Centre in PARIS with celebrities, politicians of all borders (Right, Left and Extreme Right parties.), intellectuals and members of the Russian community. The location was at first the headquarters of Météo France and is situated near Palais de l'Alma, the Eiffel Tower, Quay Branly Museum, the Esplanade des Invalides, the Grand Palais and the Modern Art Museum.

The development consists of four separate entities, each with its own distinctive identity but forming a harmonious ensemble in which buildings resonate with one another and with their immediate environment :

* A cultural centre (the Branly building), including a book shop, exhibition spaces and a cafeteria

* A Russian Orthodox cathedral

* A parish centre (the Rapp building), including a 200-seat auditorium and foyer, offices of the cultural service of the Russian Federation Embassy in France and furnished apartments

* A Franco-Russian primary school for 150 children (the Université building), including classrooms and workshops, an infirmary, a canteen and kitchen, six apartments for teachers and indoor and outdoor play areas.

THE DOMES OF AN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL :

Onion domes are characteristic of Russian religious architecture. Although the number can vary, there are generally five of them, as there will be on the future Holy Trinity Cathedral under construction on Quai Branly in Paris. The large central dome and the four smaller ones symbolise Christ and the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

For the Holy Trinity Cathedral, architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte wanted to create totally smooth domes, a finish that is difficult to produce using traditional techniques. The domes of Russian Orthodox cathedrals are generally multi-faceted because they consist of an assembly of hundreds of copper sheets. In order to give full force to Wilmotte & Associés´ architectural project, Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France decided to use composite materials. Widely used in the aviation and shipbuilding industries, composite materials are virtually absent from the construction sector. The use of this technology to create the cathedral´s domes is a world first.

90,000 GOLD LEAVES :

The gilding used for the cathedral domes is a gold-platinum alloy called Moon Gold. This alloy produces a matt golden finish, different from the bright gold colour of the Invalides dome, for instance, or the statues on the Pont Alexandre III. No fewer than 90,000 gold leaves, each measuring 8 x 8 cm, were needed. In order to work in a protected environment, the gilding was performed at Multiplast´s premises. Gohard, a specialised Parisian company, carried out this operation over a period of three months.

Speeches were given during the Inauguration by the following :

* Vladimir Medinsky, Russian Minister of Culture
* Monseigneur Antoine, Bishop of Bogorodsk representing Patriarche Cyrille
* Jean-Michel Wilmotte, architect
* Bernard Mounier, President of Bouygues Bâtiment IDF
* Rachida Dati, Mayor of 7th Arrondissement of Paris
* Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
* Jean-Marie Le Guen, secrétaire d'Etat next to the Prime Minister, in charged of relationship with the Parliament

Also, was attending Alexandre Orlov, Ambassador of Russia in FRANCE

Source : Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center - Willmotte and Associés

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