The conflict over the construction of an Orthodox church in the place of a popular square, about which we wrote yesterday, has without exaggeration become a central political issue in Russia. After that, during the night and today, it has continued.
Late yesterday evening, thousands of outraged citizens came to the square, tore down the fence surrounding the construction site and threw it into the river. Now, instead of fighters from the Academy of Martial Arts («academics»), the regime’s regular police and National Guard fighters came out to confront them. As a result, dozens of demonstrators were arrested and some were injured in clashes with the security forces. In particular, 17-year-old Albert K., who came to the park to film the protest, had his nose broken — he was diagnosed with a displaced fracture of the nasal bone and will now need surgery.
«It’s funny,» but predictably, the authorities and security forces began arresting the very representatives of the protesters they had invited to a «dialogue» the day before. Of course, demands to stop the protests and threats of consequences if this does not happen can be called «dialogue». In particular, Victor Barmine, Yaroslav Shirshikov, Anna Baltina and Yekaterina Lakhtikova were arrested or summoned for questioning by the police. In response, the human rights commissioner of the Sverdlovsk region, Tatyana Merzlyakova, stated that the protest leaders «should not hide behind the backs of young people.
However, the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, priest Maxim Miniailo (pictured below), did not hesitate to criticize the protesters, calling them «terrorists,» according to representatives of the protesters at the negotiations. As a result, the future church is already being defended by local residents. It’s not surprising that this has caused a wave of «sincere love» for the Russian Orthodox Church among the latter. One manifestation of this is the crosses creatively placed by the demonstrators on the construction site. And the corresponding reaction of local residents on social networks, wondering why Orthodoxy is being imposed by the National Guard forces.
Some go further and predict that the Russian Orthodox Church’s policy will provoke a wave of hatred against it in society in a few years. Others even promise that not only will the planned church not be built on the square, but that other churches may also be in danger because of the Russian Orthodox Church’s attitude toward citizens.
The controversial Orthodox deacon Andrei Kuraev spoke openly about what is happening on his blog, addressing the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church: «You are so powerful. The mayor, the governor, the security forces, the sponsors, the activists, the media — everything is in your hands. So make a gift to the city. Do not go where it is already good without you (in the park), but where it is bad, miserable and degenerate. Take the most abandoned part of the city and gather all your resources for its regeneration. Make the Church of St. Catherine a visible symbol and slogan of its rebirth. And with it — build a metro there, resettle the slums, build a clinic and a modern school.
When the International Olympic Committee decides which country will be awarded the Olympic Games, it requires a description of the social consequences of the brief celebration. What will the local population get in addition to the stadiums? The top of the church could think about what to give rather than what to take away. And occasionally use its unconstitutional lobbying power in favor of ordinary people.»
Meanwhile, the world has seen the «face» of Orthodoxy as it has become in the era of the great holy struggle against «Pussy Riot».
But the faithful defender of Russian Orthodoxy against the attacks of the Russian people and the treacherous criticism of the Russian deacons, Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the largest state propaganda media «Russia Today», will always come to the rescue. Judging by her words, which she expresses and shares on her Telegram channel, Orthodoxy in Ekaterinburg is opposed by «Ural Bandera supporters» who are about to start crucifying Orthodox boys in the squares.
It can be assumed that soon «volunteers» will be sent to the Urals to protect the «Russian-speaking» and «Orthodox» people from local «terrorists» and «Bandera supporters».