ROC rep explains why in Russia they'll never portray Christ as a black man
"Last Supper" featuring the black "Jesus Christ." Picture: Daily Mail
The image of black Jesus Christ contradicts church canons and "it won't happen in Russia", said Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, the head of the Expert Council of the Russian Orthodox Church for Church Art, Architecture and Restoration, in a comment to RIA Novosti.
"Christ wasn't an African American, was he? said the ROC clergyman. “So this is an image of another person. Apparently, for the sake of political expediency, they are trying to show in this way their hypertrophied, groundless, totally inappropriate position towards African Americans".
According to him, one can portray anyone and anything, "but it will be impossible to call it Christ”.
"It won't happen in Russia. Because we follow the strict canons of the Church. And they have not adhered to them for a long time. Therefore, it is natural that they can try to depict anyone in any form, but it will not correspond to the truth," said the head of the Expert Council of the ROC for Church Art.
We recall that on July 4, 2020, a painting of the Last Supper featuring a black Jesus replaced a Nativity scene at St Albans Cathedral (Hertfordshire County, England) to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter., shortly after Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury urged the Church of England to review the image of Christ as a white man.
Read also
Orthodox Church in America raises $700,000 for Ukrainians in Poland
An OCA representative met with Metropolitan Sava and discussed humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Hollywood Catholic actors remind of the spiritual meaning of Great Lent
Mark Wahlberg i Jonathan Roumie recorded a video message calling for prayer at the beginning of Great Lent.
MP Huz discusses seizure of UOC monastery in Myltsi with Volyn RMA head
Huz demanded that the authorities "resolve the situation" with the St. Nicholas Monastery of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy of the UOC.
Lviv authorities to allocate UAH 300,000 for UGCC church damaged by shelling
The Lviv City Council will finance the restoration of stained glass windows of the Uniate church after damage sustained as a result of a missile strike.
Yelets Icon of Mother of God venerated in ancient monastery of Chernihiv
Metropolitan Clement celebrated the Liturgy at the Yelets Monastery of Chernihiv on the day of veneration of the monastery's main shrine.
In Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, OCU supporters convert seized church into warehouse
In the Cherkasy region, Dumenko's supporters set up a clothing warehouse in the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which previously belonged to the UOC.