First
prison, then compassion seems to be the Russian Orthodox Church's stance on
Pussy Riot. But observers say that this might lead to many Russians turning
their back on the church.
Russian
Patriarch Kyrill presented his latest book in March in the Cathedral of Christ
the Savior in Moscow. One of the key issues he focused on was the virtue of
compassion. It's compassion for the members of punk band Pussy Riot that
Russian human rights activists, artists, writers, musicians as well as Western
celebrities like Sting, Madonna or Germany's Nina Hagen are now calling for.
 |
| Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina face prison time |
The verdict
for Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich is
expected to be announced Friday (17.08.2012). The prosecution accuses the three
women, who have been held in custody for half a year, of hooliganism and
incitement of religious hatred.
In
February, the band had staged a "protest prayer" in Moscow's biggest
church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savoir, just days ahead of the presidential
elections that swept Vladimir Putin back into the president's office.
An Internet
video shows a group of women in short dresses and wearing colorful balaclavas,
dancing in front of the altar and shaking their fists. The video is accompanied
by a punk prayer, a song calling on the Virgin Mary to chase Putin away.
Waning
public support for harsh sentence
 |
| Patriarch Kyrill described the performance as "blasphemy" |
The accused
have described their performance as a political act. Ahead of the presidential
poll, the Russian Orthodox Church had called upon people to vote for Putin.
That's why, Pussy Riot members said, they wanted to protest against the close
connection between the church and the Kremlin.
Over the
course of the trial, a dwindling number of Russians expressed support for a
harsh sentence for the three young women. Opinion polls in April had suggested
that some 47 percent of the population were in support of a tough verdict, in
June that number fell to 33 percent.
Many of the
Orthodox believers, however, have insisted on a severe sentence, Natalia
Sorkaja, from the pollsters Lewada which conducted the study, told DW. She said
most Russians were well informed about the Pussy Riot trial and that the media
was covering the case extensively.
Church
demands punishment
 |
| Pussy Riot staged their political protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior |
Since the
trial began, Russia's Orthodox Church has been calling for a severe sentence.
It does not seem prepared to easily forgive the three young women. Kyrill spoke
of "blasphemy" and "satanic mockery."
"I
know how much the soul of our people has been hurt," he said, adding that
it was not a case the church could just brush over.
Archpriest
Vsevolod Chaplin, in charge of matters of the relation between church and
people at the Moscow patriarchy, agreed with Kyrill. He recently said it was
only after the verdict had been pronounced, that one could consider compassion.
More to
turn away from the church?
"The
church wants to see a harsh punishment for Pussy Riot because they believe it
will be a warning for other young people who want to protest against the church
with similar political actions," Nikolay Mitrokhin, a Russia specialist at
Bremen University, told DW. But he said he still is surprised by the strict
position taken up by religious leaders.
"In
the past, the church tried find a balance between the interests of the
different groups in society. It tried to not get into an argument with the
intelligentsia and the Moscow or Saint Petersburg middle class. But now it
seems, the church is breaking those ties," he said, adding that as a
result even more of the young urban class will turn away from the church.
"With
this stance, the church will make even more people of those who reflect
critically, turn away from it," Natalia Sorkaja agreed. She said she
believes about 5 percent to 7 percent of Orthodox believers could turn their
back on the church because they feel more connected to liberal and democratic
values.
Related Articles:
"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it), Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse), Illuminati (Based in Greece, Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.)
"Perceptions of God" – June 6, 2010 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Quantum Teaching, The Fear of God, Near-death Experience, God Becomes Mythology, Worship, Mastery, Intelligent Design, Benevolent Creator, Global Unity.... etc.) (Text version)
“.. For centuries you haven't been able to think past that box of what God must be like. So you create a Human-like God with wars in heaven, angel strife, things that would explain the devil, fallen angels, pearly gates, lists of dos and don'ts, and many rules still based on cultures that are centuries old. You create golden streets and even sexual pleasures as rewards for men (of course) - all Human perspective, pasted upon God. I want to tell you that it's a lot different than that. I want to remind you that there are those who have seen it! Why don't you ask somebody who has had what you would call a near-death experience?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.