Rozbiórka byłego soboru Aleksandra Newskiego na placu Saskim w Warszawie. Studium przypadku z dziedziny polityki i administracji władz centralnych i samorządowych odrodzonej Rzeczypospolitej
Demolition of the Former Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Saski Square in Warsaw. Case Study in the Field of Politics and Administration of Central and Local Government Authorities of the Reborn Polish Republic

Summary/Abstract: When Poland regained its independence, a decision was made to pull down the Orthodox St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral as part of clearing Warsaw’s public space from the remains of the symbolic politics of partition. This matter was widely commented on both among the political elites of the Second Polish Republic and the residents of Warsaw, and the inhabitants of whole Poland were informed about it. Social organisations and the Town Hall of Warsaw were the first to take the issue of demolition of the Cathedral. Information on this subject appeared in the press and reached the Government of the Polish Republic. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers took a stand on this matter at the request of its Chairman, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. It was unambiguous – the Cathedral had to be demolished, and the Ministry of Public Works was to do it. Due to the interventions of the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Enlightenment and the Ministry of Military Affairs, demolition was ceased. This subject was again taken up by the Legislative Sejm which, after conducting public consultations and lively discussions at the plenary session, postponed the demolition for a later period (interestingly, requests for demolition and maintaining the Cathedral were presented to the Sejm by representatives of one party).

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