We have written many times about the hypocrisy and double standards of the Kremlin’s policy in the religious sphere, whose discussions about the need to protect secularity and fight fundamentalism are directed only at Muslims and are forgotten when it comes to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
An illustrative example of this is the leniency of the authorities towards the ROC deputy, whose demonstrably anti-social actions are provoking a corona virus pandemic in Russia. For example, the ROC has exhibited the «relics of John the Baptist» in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and thousands of people have lined up to kiss them one by one. After kissing the relics, a woman wipes them with the same napkin and cloth without gloves!
This is happening at a time when in Europe one country after another is banning all mass gatherings, even of more than 5 people, closing restaurants and non-essential shops, and some countries have imposed curfews. In Italy, people send their photographs and family photos to closed churches, which are then filled by priests so that they do not remain empty. In many Muslim countries, mosques are also closed for visits, and instead of the usual call to prayer (azan), the phrase «pray at home» (alsalah fi buyutikum) is now sounded, just as it was in the prophetic Medina during heavy rains.
And this behavior of conscious Christians and Muslims, protecting their societies from disaster, contrasts with the sectarians and fanatics who have become the cause of the spread of the coronavirus, as was the case in South Korea and Iran. Meanwhile, in response to the outraged reaction of Russians to the fact that the ROC is endangering not only its followers but also the entire society, they have declared that they do not intend to stop the pilgrimage to the relics, and it will continue until March 17.
Moreover, the so-called «Holy Synod» of the ROC MEPs issued a statement that it will continue the practice of so-called sacraments in its churches, stating that «believers should not succumb to panic and fear associated with the spread of unverified information about the infection». In other words, during the declared pandemic of the coronavirus in the world, the ROC will continue to perform so-called communion in its churches, where parishioners drink wine from the same chalice and spoon, not to mention the unnecessary gathering of such a large number of people in a confined space.
Therefore, against this background, the Moscow City Hall appealed to the leaders of the main Muslim organizations of the city, not even on behalf of the mayor personally, but on behalf of some low-ranking official, urging them to limit the number of worshippers in mosques and encourage them to pray at home.