The Arkhangelsk diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church protests against the use of Orthodox symbols in an event organized by advertising agencies

On October 25, a protest rally began in Arkhangelsk, organized by the city's advertising agencies, in connection with a planned increase in the municipal tax on outdoor advertising. Posters appeared on the streets depicting a yellow six-pointed cross on a black background (like on a tombstone), below the inscription: "Outdoor advertising in Arkhangelsk" and "years of life" (1995-2005). The local diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church regarded this move by advertisers as blasphemy and "unacceptable use of the symbols of the Orthodox Church in a public demonstration of negative emotions."

“The six-pointed cross is a sacred and revered Christian symbol,” the press service of the diocese says in a statement. “The use of the symbol of the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of anti-advertising is blasphemous and is an insult to the religious feelings of Arkhangelsk residents.

In this regard, guided by the Federal Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", we declare the right to defend our religious feelings and appeal to the organizers of the protest action with a demand to immediately remove offensive posters from the streets of Arkhangelsk. We declare that the Arkhangelsk diocese has applied to law enforcement agencies with a request to take measures to respect the rights of believers in Arkhangelsk."

Sources

• On the night of October 25, the streets of Arkhangelsk turned into a cemetery // IA REGNUM. 2005. October 25.
• Statement by the press service of the Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory diocese // Official site of the Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2005. October 25.