I’m in two minds about the whole thing. As an Orthodox Christian I find their actions offensive. At the same time I believe in being forgiving and compassionate so whilst I think that we cannot tolerate such disrespect to the Church (it was not a peaceful protest, it was violating a holy space…
thats exactly where Im at. I think they should give them the option of repentance and spending a few months at a female monastery to reorient themselves and if they then deny that, they should be sentenced. I think that would be the most fair thing to do.
I do not think a monastery would be a good idea since if they do not show respect to a cathedral they would not be respectful to the life of a nun. Also, we do not want to go back to the Byzantine era where political opposition were forced into monasticism to hide them, a monastery should be a sacred place, not a rehab centre/prison. Repentance only means something if it is by choice, otherwise someone is not truely repentant.
I have mixed minds on the issue. I know that there is a lot of corruption in the relationship between Putin and the church and feel that it does need to be sorted out but also that the government has always had a close relationship with the church. We need to remember that this is not the times of the Russian Empire or the Tsars but an elected government who will use the church’s support for votes and when this government are committing crimes it is not the duty of the church to hide them or stay silent but to pressure the government to think of the people and act according to their duty. The Church should play no role in elections or the government but simply care for the people.
As for the Pussy riot trial itself, I believe that prison is correct. They desecrated a pace of worship. I would say the same if it were for any faith. If you are protesting the relationship between the ROC and Putin you should not do so through acts such as the desecration of a church (which is an attack on millions of orthodox Christians) you should do so in a way which does not make you a criminal or an enemy of those people. They deserve prison as they committed a crime though the media, church and government should not have made martyrs of them by the drama of the trial and sentence as it only goes to make this look like they are making examples of them for their cause rather the action itself.
They staged a surprise performance in a public building and sang songs about a corrupt government. I fail to see how this is a legitimate crime! Playing music is not desecration - even if it’s music you don’t like. There’s a woman who stands and sings religious opera songs outside my shop several times a week through an amp and it gives me a raging headache, but I don’t say she’s disrespecting my rights as an atheist.
