St Nicholas’ basilica with the relics of the Saint and the Church of St Nicholas "are for Russian people an essential reference point for their devotion and spirituality. Therefore, the event of the delivery of the Church by the Italian government to the Russian government and ultimately to Patriarch Alexi II has a clear ecumenical value based on the fraternal long-lasting relationship we are having with Russian people and all the bishops of the Russian world." Next Saturday delivery is the fruit of a long series of political and administrative agreements. The church of St Nicholas was built by the tsar on XX century for the pilgrims who were heading to Bari to venerate St Nocholas’ relics. In 1937, the building became the property of Bari municipality and in May 2007, considering the important symbolic value the Church has for Russian people, on the visit of Vladimir Putin (former Russian president at the time) to Bari, negotiations were open for the passage of the Church to Russia. ” ” ” “
