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.

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