Russian Orthodox Church uges authorities to legally ban “cross removal”
Logo of the Ryazan Department of Culture. Photo: open sources
On April 8, 2025, the head of the Legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Abbess Kseniya (Chernega), addressed the State Duma with a legislative initiative aimed at protecting religious symbols in the public sphere. The proposal was presented during a session of an inter-factional working group, according to SOVA.
In her view, changes should be made to the federal laws “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” and “On Advertising,” adding a provision that prohibits the use of images of religious buildings and objects with religious symbolism if the symbols are omitted.
“The use of images of religious buildings, as well as other objects containing religious symbols, without the specified symbols, shall not be permitted in the media, in the sale of goods, the performance of work, or the provision of services, as well as in state symbols and signs, announcements, signage, and advertising,” reads the wording proposed by the Moscow Patriarchate's representative.
She emphasized that the initiative is intended to combat the so-called “cross removal” (“krestopad”), which, according to her, can be observed “in print publications, on banknotes, in photographs of churches, and in advertising.”
Earlier, it was reported that the Russian Orthodox Church expressed outrage over the erasure of crosses from the cover of a Russian Constitution textbook.
Read also
Greek priest: Sad to see Orthodox Christians fighting each other in Ukraine
Fr. Georgios Katsaounis recalled the historical ties between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples and criticized the Greek Prime Minister’s statement about a “war with Russia.”
Anglican Archbishop: Ban on women's priesthood in RCC is an injustice
After her visit to the pontiff, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally touched on the topic of women's priesthood in the RCC in an interview and called the ban on it "an injustice."
Greek priest on Pope's visit to Phanar: faith must not be sold
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis warned that in the modern ecumenical dialogue there are serious risks of diluting Orthodox dogmas.
Greek priest: The principle of papal supremacy in Catholicism is a disease
Archpriest Georgios Katsaounis stated that Western Christianity suffers from the principle of one person's supremacy, and called this a spiritual illness.
In Egypt, Coptic blogger sentenced to 5 years for videos about Christianity
A Coptic blogger was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor under a blasphemy law for publishing a video about Christianity.
Patriarchate of Georgia denies ROC influence on election of patriarch
Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze stated that rumors about pressure from the Russian Orthodox Church on Patriarch Ilia regarding the selection of a locum tenens are false.