How to build a temple if the people are against it?

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

As you know, the main problem of the capital is the lack of Orthodox churches. Everything is fine with us with kindergartens, everything is tip-top with transport, there are no traffic jams or dirt. We just have few Orthodox churches. Therefore, the Moscow government, in agreement with the spiritual masters, adopted a program for the construction of several hundred "modular temples within walking distance." Churchmen dream that the gaze of a Muscovite, wherever he may be, constantly rested on Orthodox chapels.

The turn came to the Perovo district in the Eastern Administrative District. The prefecture announced its intention to erect a church near the Entuziastov Shosse metro station, next to the Vladimirsky pond. At the same time, it is planned to cut down part of the grove and fence off the territory. The residents of Perov, wandering to the metro on foot, will see a fenced stone bag instead of the usual grove on one side.

What is the meaning of building a temple in this place is not clear. What is the general sense of its construction, in addition to traditional cuts and kickbacks? The temple will stand right next to a huge road junction under construction, surrounded by industrial facilities, parking lots, highways. Who will go there? How much noise and dust will this object add to its surroundings? Why not, finally, solve some more pressing regional problems instead of building this structure?

According to the current legislation, these questions must be answered by public hearings of the project. The prefecture and district government are required to organize these hearings so that residents of the district ask their questions and speak freely about the construction. The hearing was scheduled for January 31st.

Citizens have already faced rigging and gross fraud during such events more than once. The calculation of the authorities is usually straightforward. Officials rely on the indifference and illiteracy of the people, thanks to which they manage to turn fraudulent actions and pretend that all this was done "at the numerous requests of the working people."

To attract the attention of residents, local social activists, together with activists of the ROT FRONT party, distributed leaflets throughout the district urging people to come to public hearings and express their protest against the construction of the temple. This did not escape the watchful gaze of the clerical overseers. Upon learning about the leaflet, they were seriously alarmed. Kirill Frolov, an Orthodox fundamentalist widely known in narrow circles, burst into hysteria about "swamp activists" who "have nothing to do" with the region. The authorities began frantically preparing for the event …

The hearing took place on the evening of January 31 in one of the district schools. Among those who came to the event were activists of the ROT FRONT party, who supported local residents in their desire to stop the development of the park. The first surprise was already at check-in. It suddenly turned out that the registration of the participants in the public hearings was carried out not by passport, but simply by voice. The man approached the table, gave his address, and the girls from the council, without any verification, diligently wrote down the data. In front of one of the local residents, a group of some half-drunken-looking peasants “registered” in this manner, moreover, the “senior” stood out among them, who dictated the addresses for all. The girls wrote it down. When a local resident asked them whether it was obligatory to show a passport, he was answered: "As you wish. You can show it, you can not."

Thus, from the very beginning, the public hearings had no legitimate character, since it was not possible to ascertain that it was the inhabitants of the Perovo district who constituted the majority in the hall.

But that's not all. According to the law, citizens should be able to state their opinion in writing. For this, when registering, there must be special columns or separate forms. The organizers did not provide this opportunity either. Apparently, the rulers felt so insecure that they decided to do without the written expression of the will of the people …

There were hardly more than 50-60 people in the hall. Several close-knit groups were immediately evident. First, a group of Orthodox fanatics around a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. Secondly, a group of young people clustered in the front row. Imagine our surprise when one of the politically literate comrades recognized these young people as Orthodox provocateurs who had made a sensational scandal in a cafe. Yes, yes, these are the same thugs who pestered citizens with arrogant and aggressive demands. Fearing the popular protest, the priests and officials mobilized them for public hearings. And I must say, the clerical "six" worked diligently … Needless to say, this audience had nothing to do with the inhabitants of Perovo.

First, the officials, seated in the presidium, reported on duty on plans for development. A certain "chief specialist" hastily drove a presentation with pictures on the screen. Boredom was read on the faces of the bureaucrats. It was felt that they were holding an event for show and hoping to get rid of it as soon as possible. To this was mingled with poorly concealed contempt: after all, gentlemen are forced to waste their time and grovel in front of some illiterate cattle …

Then people from the audience were given the opportunity to speak. Clerics have adopted traditional tactics. Following the instructions they received, they watched every performance vigilantly. They immediately tried to shout objectionable speeches, to bring down the speaker. This was often successful - after all, ordinary people usually do not have experience in public speaking. They applauded loyal performances diligently, as if demonstrating the support of the entire audience.

However, the churchmen did not have to relax. There were also more experienced political activists among the local residents, who proved impossible to be knocked down by shouts or silenced. There were quite clear and harsh speeches that drew the audience's applause. The clerics bustled. They lined up in single file at the microphone and began to speak at length about morality, spirituality and the need to quickly build a temple. The tone of the speeches was ecstatic and idiotic. Young adherents of Orthodoxy literally licked the ROC and personally Mr. Gundyaev with their rough tongues. And ordinary residents, making their way through the noise and shouts, still asked painful questions: why is this temple being built? for whose money? why can't we just keep the square? Feeling that the situation was getting out of control, Orthodox claqueraters began to walk to the microphone in a second round and simply bore the audience with chatter. A real "carousel" began at the microphone, as in the elections. At the same time, in response to the demands of residents to introduce themselves and indicate their place of residence, they bashfully reported that they did not live here, but they “have friends in Perovo”.

The situation was heating up. It came down to direct threats. Some fundamentalist with the face of an elderly pimp, who was sitting next to a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, told one of the local residents that "now 30-40 athletes will come here to express their opinion and stop hooliganism." Pop reacted quite favorably to such statements of his adept. From under the hypocritical mask of piety and spirituality a fascist mug crawled out for a minute …

The head of the municipal formation of Perovo, Mr. Dovgopol, drew the line under the farce. With a blue eye, he thanked the residents of Perov (hardly half of them were in the audience) for "supporting the construction of the temple"! As they say, for such people everything is God's dew. However, the cheerful statement of the district bureaucrat could not hide the confusion of the authorities. They did not expect such a reception.

… We look forward to the official announcement of the results of these fake, thoroughly fraudulent "public hearings". ROT FRONT, together with local residents, is considering a whole range of possible actions, from prosecuting fraudsters to organizing public events. The fight against Gundyaevka has just begun!