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Ukrainian nationalists hold demonstration against Russian Orthodox Church in central Kyiv

27.07.2011, 10:06
The Kyiv branch of the nationalist Svoboda all-Ukrainian Union held a demonstration near the Ukrainian House in Kyiv on Wednesday against what it called "clerical occupation" of Ukraine by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Kyiv branch of the nationalist Svoboda all-Ukrainian Union held a demonstration near

the Ukrainian House in Kyiv on Wednesday against what it called "clerical occupation" of

Ukraine by the Russian Orthodox Church. 

The demonstrators held national and party flags and banners saying, 'Down With Moscow

Colonizing Priest,' 'Ukrainian Orthodoxy Against Moscow Obscurantism,' 'For Unified Local

Orthodox Church with Center In Kyiv' and others. The participants in the protest were also

chanting, "Shame!"

As part of the demonstration, the organizers held a photo exhibition on the porch of the

Ukrainian House, entitled 'Moscow Priests' Seven Deadly Sins'. The photos, illustrating

what the Ukrainian nationalists condemn Russian Orthodox Church leaders for, i.e. wrath,

greed, envy, pride, etc., depict a yacht presumably belonging to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

and All Russia, his watch reportedly costing 35,000 euro, some people wearing cassocks

and holding bats in their hands, and other 'compromising' material.

"The exhibition's purpose is to show the hypocrisy of Russian Orthodox Church members,

who in fact propagate not Christian values but the Russian world's imperialistic doctrine,"

Andriy Illenko, the head of Svoboda's branch in Kyiv, told journalists.

The organizers first planned to hold their protest at the intersection of Triokhsviatytelska

Street and Kostiolna Street, but had to gather near the Ukrainian House instead to comply with a court ruling.

The Kyiv branch of the nationalist Svoboda all-Ukrainian Union held a demonstration near the Ukrainian House in Kyiv on Wednesday against what it called "clerical occupation" of Ukraine by the Russian Orthodox Church. 
The demonstrators held national and party flags and banners saying, 'Down With Moscow Colonizing Priest,' 'Ukrainian Orthodoxy Against Moscow Obscurantism,' 'For Unified Local Orthodox Church with Center In Kyiv' and others. The participants in the protest were also chanting, "Shame!"
As part of the demonstration, the organizers held a photo exhibition on the porch of the Ukrainian House, entitled 'Moscow Priests' Seven Deadly Sins'. The photos, illustrating what the Ukrainian nationalists condemn Russian Orthodox Church leaders for, i.e. wrath, greed, envy, pride, etc., depict a yacht presumably belonging to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, his watch reportedly costing 35,000 euro, some people wearing cassocks and holding bats in their hands, and other 'compromising' material.
"The exhibition's purpose is to show the hypocrisy of Russian Orthodox Church members, who in fact propagate not Christian values but the Russian world's imperialistic doctrine," Andriy Illenko, the head of Svoboda's branch in Kyiv, told journalists.
The organizers first planned to hold their protest at the intersection of Triokhsviatytelska Street and Kostiolna Street, but had to gather near the Ukrainian House instead to comply with a court ruling.