In St. Petersburg, priests of the Apostolic Orthodox Church spoke out against the law on insulting the feelings of believers

In St. Petersburg, the priests of the Gleb Yakunin Church opposed the law on insulting the feelings of believers.   

On November 18, 2016, priests of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, founded by priest Gleb Yakunin, held a series of solo pickets in St. Petersburg against the law on insulting the feelings of believers.

They held posters in their hands: “God is never mocked (Apostle Paul). We demand the repeal of Article 148 of the Criminal Code “Insulting the feelings of believers” and “The feelings of believers are protected by the Lord, not by the criminal code. Cancel Art. 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Police officers copied the activists' passport data, but the picket was not dispersed. The picket was a reaction to the initiation of a criminal case under Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed in order to insult the religious feelings of believers) against the defenders of the Torfyanka park, who opposed the construction of a church in the park area. In Moscow, a similar picket was held by Orthodox citizens on November 16 near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Sources

• Religious figures picketed against Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg // Fontanka. November 18, 2016.
• The priests of the Orthodox Church opposed Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation //NevaToday. November 18, 2016.
• REPORTAGE: Did Saul stay in Russia? Orthodox laity did not remain silent about the violence against Torfyanka activists fueled by the ROC MP // Portal-Credo.ru. November 18, 2016.