Vsevolod Chaplin: ‘Say about it, Sokolovsky – Church will certainly give him a hand’
Famous Orthodox cleric tells about Pokémon catchers from the Urals who injured the Christians’ feelings
A message about an arrest of a blogger from Yekaterinburg Ruslan Sokolovsky who caught Pokémons in an Orthodox church has stirred up the media space these days. Many social activists defended the guy who had even followers in other cities. A famous server of the Russian Orthodox Church and columnist of Realnoe Vremya Protoiereus Vsevolod Chaplin reacted to the discussion. Naming the Pokémon catcher's real surname (Saibabtalov), he notes his frailties that could interest the police: drug addiction, blasphemous statements, insult of religious people and playing the field. Though destructive forces support the young men, Vsevolod Chaplin says when the Church can be merciful to him.
One fool makes many
A story with investigative actions with respect to the blogger from Yekaterinburg Ruslan Sokolovsky (who used to bear the surname Saibabtalov but then changed it together with his patronymic) caused a storm of discussions. Some of his defenders are trying to say that the nice guy was criticised for 'catching Pokémons'.
The blogger's supporters rushed to temples to repeat his deed: people tried to run similar campaigns in Petersburg and Murmansk. However, such a furious reaction was not reached. It is no surprise: no one will rebel just because a person looks at his or her phone at church. It is ill-mannered, strange, what can we do? I was shocked on last Sunday when one my acquaintance carefully looked at his phone before his own church wedding. If the occasion arises, I will tell him it is unethical. But, firstly, I will ask him why he looked at the phone because I know: the servant of God is having tough days.
'One day Pokémon catchers will have to be held accountable. It hinders to 'hold services and other religious customs and ceremonies'. Photo: ntv.ru
By the way, one day Pokémon catchers will have to be held accountable. It hinders to 'hold services and other religious customs and ceremonies'. Such actions are fined, punished with obligatory or correctional works (Clause 148 of Criminal Code of Russia). However, Sokolovsky-Saibabtalov did not bother other people. He is not accused of Pokémonomania. After the campaign at church that he announced and considered as provocative, the blogger posted videos where Orthodox chants were parodied with swear words on the Internet. He used a rude word with respect to God. And here we are speaking about an obvious violation of sacred places that religious people consider more valuable than life. People used to go to war or martyrdom for the sake of holy objects and symbols in ancient times and in the 20th century for a reason. It seems that the author of the videos just decided to challenge religious people whether they will withstand it or not…
'These people are afraid very much that faith and moral will powerfully return to life'
Many destroyers of moral, religion, state, tradition, family choose this way. Sometimes it is not free. Some international organisations support the deconstruction of public foundations by all means because it is easier to rule the people who don't have values via political, information and 'cultural' manipulations. Even their number can be reduced at times like there are extra mouths in the world that don't refer to the 'golden billion'.
By the way, Saibabtalov-Sokolovsky is deconstructing the value of family very actively. The same video where God was called offensively included the following words: 'It will be a surprise if there is at least a couple of virgins in the whole country. Probably they are 6. <…> The very institution of marriage became obsolete and no one needs it. Only intellectually disabled people reproduce'. Parents, children, all people of our country were offended here. A punishment or indulgence can be an answer to it. Anyway, neither Saibabtalov-Sokolovsky nor anybody else must repeat his actions, it must be the sense of the answer.
'Anyway, I hope he will choose a decent future, i.e. joy of having a family, being a father, faith, life in harmony with his people. Probably he will return the surname of his mother and father as well the patronymic.' Photo: twitter.com
Smarter and more honest defenders of the blogger don't hide his views behind talks about an 'innocent' game for a reason. They perceive him as a symbol of anti-clericalism, love of freedom or just a certain lifestyle that is spread among our 'elites' and their offspring. The blogger had drugs. Their amount was small, that is to say, for personal use, not for sale. His sexual behaviour with girls is known. Many cynical and provocative statements are known. Many 'especial' people in Russia would like to preserve the right for such a behaviour. They identified Saibabtalov-Sokolovsky as 'their guy', though he can't boast of elite toys. These people are afraid very much that faith and moral will powerfully return to the social life. It means they will affect their 'personal' life too. This is why, having put an information knife to Church's throat, they are supporting the blogger obdurately and are requiring mercy.
Ruslan needs to choose
Well, mercy is quite possible. But it must be preceded by repentance – an understanding of the incorrectness of the offensive words and a clearly expressed intention not to repeat them. Say about it, man. Church will certainly give him a hand. But then the current groups of support will certainly turn their back on him. For this reason, he needs to make a difficult decision. Anyway, I hope he will choose a decent future, i.e. joy of having a family, being a father, faith, life in harmony with his people. Probably he will return the surname of his mother and father as well the patronymic.
Another choice is also possible, of course. Then Ruslan's keen intellect will serve not him but games of people whose conscience burnt out, who make themselves and millions of their supporters unhappy. There is no happiness in egoism, frailty, provocations and games with holy places – in everything that make the Ural blogger their symbol and provide him with a 'heroic' promotion.