Translated material
Clergy on Halloween
On October 28, 2011, the opinions of the Orthodox were published, Islamic and Jewish mentors about Halloween and its celebration in Russia.
Archpriest Maxim Pervozvansky, editor-in-chief of the magazine "Heir" is sure that "Halloween is an expansion of Western culture", worship the devil "half-jokingly." In his opinion, officials and teachers “ should issue an instruction that would not recommend celebrating Halloween .”
Archpriest of the Cosmodemyansk Church in Shubin Alexander Kuzin believes that "Halloween, which came to Russia from the West, leads to the end of Christianity."
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), Chairman of the Donskoy Publishing Council stavropegic monastery, is convinced that Halloween is a “satanic cult”. « C We have to state with regret,” he said, “that in our society there is such a layer of people who, on the one hand, accuse the Church of trampling on freedom, and on the other hand, they are ready to sell themselves to any satanic cult ."
Priest Valery Bulannikov, cleric of St. Nicholas Church in Otradnoye, recalled pagan "roots of the holiday associated with the cult of the dead." “ It is, in essence, anti-Christian holiday , he summed up. - No state he doesn't deserve support ." The priest also believes that " in schools this holiday should be completely banned, including its symbolism .”
Alexy Kozlivskov, priest of the Yelokhov Cathedral, believes that “dressing in costumes of evil spirits, manipulation and eating parts of the body of the dead are real demonization of consciousness”, “game imitation of cannibalism”. In his opinion, “ those who spread such holidays are guilty before God and society in the spiritual murder and schizophrenia of the minds of youth .”
Fatykh-Khazrat Garifullin, Chairman of the Tyumen Kazyyat of the Spiritual Administration Muslims of the Asian part of Russia, considers the holiday "evidence of the expansion West” and proposes to counterbalance it more actively to revive national traditions. “ So that these holidays alien to our culture do not take root among the people , - he said, - we must revive our national Russian traditions, create conditions for youth for sports, educational, cultural development, tear them away from this decline in morals .”
Chairman of the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations of Russia Rabbi Zinovy Kogan is convinced that "Halloween should not be taken too seriously." He reminds that Halloween today is "not a celebration of some kind of worship Satan, this is the usual tomfoolery, although with the roots of pagan atavism. « halloween not familiar to us, he argues. - But Russia is open country, we have many foreign guests, students. It's a holiday without any serious consequences, he does not call for breaking the law in any way. Better the day before holiday to hold explanatory talks, talk about it so that people understood that this is not our culture, not a traditional Russian holiday, but pagan, who came from the West. It is necessary to educate children, youth, to tell to them, both about our traditions and about others .”
Sources
- Halloween Undermines the Spiritual Health of the Nation (Expert Opinions) // Regions.ru. 2011. October 28.