Orthodox Christians picket the Variety Theater in protest against the premiere of the ballet "Rasputin"

About 200 people took part in a protest against the premiere of the ballet "Rasputin" at the Variety Theatre. The action was organized by the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods, the Union of Orthodox Banner Bearers, the Union "Christian Revival" and the Union of Orthodox

citizens.

Representatives of the Orthodox community went to the Church of St. Nicholas on Bersenevka to the theater with banners and banners of tsarist Russia. Those gathered were holding posters "Hands off high culture!", "No to blasphemy!", "Hands off the royal martyrs!", "God save and preserve Holy Rus'!", "Orthodox culture is a cure for vulgarity" .

The participants of the action are not satisfied with the fact that Nicholas II, canonized as a saint, will be presented dancing on the stage.

Recall that earlier the Orthodox community of Yekaterinburg protested against the showing of this ballet .

The representative of the DECR, priest Mikhail Dudko, does not approve of the picket, believing that "the organizers of this ballet and its creators rely on such protests, because as a result they can become widely known, and, as a result, popular. Thus, such actions are perceived them as free advertising."

Stressing that the Moscow Patriarchate had nothing to do with organizing the picket, the priest said that he was in solidarity with those who might be offended by this ballet.

The artistic director of the Variety Theater Gennady Khazanov reacted calmly to the protest action taking place in front of the theater entrances: "In a democratic society, everyone is free to express their point of view. Bans on pickets of this kind would be an infringement on the rights of those who do not agree with this." At the same time, G. Khazanov does not consider the indignation of believers justified. "Art has the right to be engaged on the stage and saints," - said the head of the theater.

On March 31, the Russian Line website published a statement from the information service of the SPH regarding the premiere of the play. "During the days of Great Lent in the center of Moscow, there is not just a new ballet performance, no. Lawlessness is being created, the memory of the Saints of the Russian Orthodox Church is being insulted. How long can you endure the continuously ongoing ritual of killing and tormenting the Holy Royal Martyrs ?!" - the statement says.

Later, L.Simonović-Niksic refuted reports that spoke of the participation of the Union of Orthodox Citizens in organizing the protest action. According to him, the participation of the SPG was expressed only in the presence of press secretary Kirill Frolov at the picket. “I can state clearly: “The picket was organized by the SPB (Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods) and SPH and by no one else,” L. Simonovich said.

Sources

• A mass protest against the showing of the ballet "Rasputin" takes place near the Moscow Variety Theater // Interfax-religion. 2005. March 30.
• Protests against the ballet "Rasputin" are free advertising for an ordinary performance, says a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate // There.
• Let's say a firm "no" to slanderers from "culture": the Union of Orthodox Banner-bearers held a prayer stand at the Variety Theater against the Moscow premiere of the ballet "Rasputin" // Russian line. 2005. March 31.
• Leonid Simonovich: The Union of Orthodox Citizens is not involved in organizing a picket against the ballet "Rasputin" // There. 2005. April 1st.
• In Krasnodar canceled the show of the scandalous ballet "Rasputin" // Week. 2005. April 19.