Translated material
Orthodox Voronezh residents demand a ban on the congress of Jehovah's Witnesses
Orthodox Voronezh residents demanded that the deputies of the regional Duma cancel the public service of Jehovah's Witnesses scheduled for early July at the city stadium with the participation of several thousand people from various regions of the country (it was about the congress of Jehovah's Witnesses. - Ed. ) . The indignation of the townspeople was caused primarily by the fact that this event was supposed to coincide with an Orthodox holiday - the Day of All Saints, who shone in the Russian land. Novaya Gazeta quoted one of the appeals received by the Duma: “...on this holy day for us Orthodox, the Jehovists are holding their action at the stadium, insulting our religious and patriotic feelings... They are calling not to serve in the army... sow doubts among citizens in love for the Fatherland, its defenders.
"They will sing, dance, have fun in every possible way, and, by the way, at this moment all Orthodox people will honor the memory and mourn for 'all the saints who shone in the Russian land,'" another letter says.
The deputies responded to these appeals. As Novaya Gazeta notes, “The Duma warned the Jehovists about terrorist attacks, the increase in crime in Voronezh, people’s dissatisfaction with social problems, and most importantly, about the presence of Voronezh residents who are radically disposed towards Jehovists. And even the mentally ill. For whom the Duma is not responsible, if anything.
And the Duma took the president himself as spiritual allies, who a year ago declared to the whole world "about the danger of religious expansion from abroad."
However, despite all the protests (which, by the way, were joined by the local diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church), the congress of Jehovah's Witnesses nevertheless took place .
Sources
- "NOVAYA GAZETA": "Without "witnesses": the Voronezh Regional Duma warns: do not anger our God!" // Interfax. 2005. June 27. (Article by A. Yagodkin from Novaya Gazeta.)
- Congress of Jehovah's Witnesses in Voronezh gathered over 6 thousand followers // Portal-Credo.ru. 2005. July 4th.