The main golden cupola has been raised into place over a new Russian Orthodox cathedral under construction in the French capital, Paris.
Religious and political figures gathered on March 19 to watch a crane hoist the 8-ton cupola into place. Before the project is completed in October, four more cupolas will also be installed.
The cathedral is just part of a 90 million-euro ($100 million) Russian Orthodox cultural and spiritual center that will include a school, a library, a seminary, and exhibition spaces.
The center will be on the balance sheet of the Russian Foreign Ministry and have diplomatic status, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko told Interfax.
