Representatives of the Saratov diocese are outraged by a collage stylized as an icon of the Mother of God

On May 4, 2016, it became known that representatives of the Saratov diocese were outraged by the appearance on the Internet of a collage with an image stylized as an icon of the Mother of God and Child.
On May 1, 2016, Saratov journalist Sergei Vilkov published the collage on his Facebook page. In this image, a woman wearing a mask and headscarf with the sign “Anarchy” holds a Molotov cocktail and a baby wearing a gas mask. Instead of traditional inscriptions on the image there are four letters - A.S. (left) and A.V. (right). The head of the information and analytical department of the Saratov diocese, Abbot Nektariy (Morozov), comments on the appearance of the image as follows: “ There is a journalist of “Public Opinion” Sergei Vilkov - a man whose name in the last year in Saratov - and not only - has been heard in connection with a variety of scandalous situations . And there is his FB page, on which from time to time he publishes things that cause shock not only among believers, but also among any more or less decent person. In particular, this Easter he decided to congratulate all his readers on May Day by posting on his account an image of the icon of the Mother of God, “processed” in accordance with his tastes and beliefs: the face of the Mother of God is covered either by a hijab or a mask, in which they usually act the raiders, instead of the head of the Infant God, there is a gas mask, and in His hand is a bottle, apparently, with a Molotov cocktail. Naturally, even among Vilkov’s subscribers there are people who are outraged by this image, so the post either disappears or appears again .”

After the publication of Abbot Nektary, a screenshot of the image described above was submitted to Center “E” employees for examination to determine if it contained any signs of offending the feelings of believers.

Sources

• Saratov journalist faces prosecution for insulting the feelings of believers // Rosbalt. 2016. May 4.
• Believers are offended by the appearance of a collage with the Virgin Mary on social networks // Vzglyad-Info. 2016. May 4.