MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) - The St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region Commercial Court has upheld a claim by the Russian Orthodox Church requesting compensation for three Orthodox crosses weighing a total of 1.5 tons and currently stored in a warehouse of the Sculpture Design Studio, the court told RIA Novosti Friday.

The injunction application was filed as the result of a dispute with the crosses’ sculptors. The crosses were produced for the Church of Nativity of the Theotokos under construction in St. Petersburg.

The plaintiff states that the sculptors produced and delivered one of four crosses. The other crosses have been retained by the defendant because, according to the Russian Orthodox Church, a higher payment than agreed in the contract was required. The designers, for their part, blame the plaintiff for their having incurred losses connected with storage facility rent. This particular circumstance became reason for an arbitration claim.

According to the plaintiff, the three crosses, as well as sets of balls and chains, have a customized design, are highly valuable, and require special storage conditions before they are mounted on domes. The plaintiff will sustain significant losses if the works are lost or damaged because their replacement will substantially delay completion of the church, will bring additional costs, and could result in fines and sanctions from third parties in associated commitments.