Society and church: New Orthodox cathedral to appear in Paris

Russia has won a competition of purchasing a site, located in the 7^th district (arrondissement) of Paris. 

Today the French National meteorological service Meteo France is located on this very site - on the river Seine not far from the Eifel Tower, to be precise. However an Orthodox cathedral may appear on this site in the not too distant future.

The meteorological service is reported to move to the new building, and after that a spiritual and cultural center will be erected here. An orthodox cathedral will become a part of this complex.

It was Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All-Russia, who was the first to express a wish to build a church of the Russian Orthodox Church in Paris. The Patriarch mentioned his wish in the conversation with the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy within his visit to this country in 2007.