Moscow’s bikers opened their summer season with a support campaign for the Russian Orthodox Church. Joined by activist drivers, they hit the city roads denouncing recent attacks on cathedrals, as well as media criticism of the Patriarch.
The rally "For the Patriarch, for the Church and for the Motherland" ran around the central Garden Ring on Saturday evening.
Numerous participants in the flash mob tied St. George ribbons, balloons and flags to their vehicles. The balloons and flags had the “Christ is Risen” Easter inscription, as Eastern Christianity celebrated the Holy Day last Sunday. The St. George ribbon has become a nationwide symbol of remembrance of those who fought against and defeated Nazi Germany.
The organizers have explained the rally comes in support of the Orthodox Church following numerous desecration attacks on churches throughout the country, including an incident with a punk rock group. In February, the activists of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot broke into Moscow’s main cathedral and sang blasphemous songs at the altar. “The Church has its own problems. No institution in the world is flawless. But we won’t tolerate destroying its basics. We are against this glamour nihilistic movement. We represent alternative patriotic forces,” explained one of the organizers, an activist of the Congress of Russian Communities, Fyodor Biryukov.The bikers did not end up in the city center. After the rally they drove to Sparrow Hills – one of the highest points in the city and their usual meeting place. The leader of the Moscow Motor club “Night Wolves” said the flash mob opened their summer season. The bikers chose to participate in the rally “in protest of some demoniacs who held their rituals in churches.”“Being a believer, as the majority of other people, I feel greatly annoyed by such actions,” he said.Several prayer services in support of the faith and many of its holy sites took place on Sunday.Orthodox Christians held a service with praying and singing outside Moscow’s main church – the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Police say it attracted 65 thousand worshippers.