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Drivers greet Moscow motor rally in support of Church

The march with flags and balloons with the Easter inscription "Christ is Risen" ran the ring in 30 minutes
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, April 22 (Itar-Tass) —— About 500 cars and motorcycles ran the Garden Ring around central Moscow on Saturday evening to express support "For the Patriarch, for the Church and for the Motherland".

The march with flags and balloons with the Easter inscription "Christ is Risen" ran the ring in 30 minutes.

As an Itar-Tass correspondent reported from the site, many passing drivers beeped to greet the column.

The column streched on the road. Drivers looked out from their cars and asked what it was. When they heard it was an action "For the Patriarch", they approvingly greeted the participants.

Before the beginning of the action, the organizers addressed a meeting at Sakharov Avenue. Activist of the Congress of Russian Communities Fyodor Biryukov noted that the goal of the rally was "to show that not only the protest movement of faith detractors exists, but there is also a patriotic vector in the civil society."

Head of the Association of Orthodox Experts Kirill Frolov, the leaders of the public organization Trade Union of Citizens of Russia and singer Olga Kormukhina also spoke at the meeting.

The chairman of the Department for Cooperation between the Church and the Society, Vsevolod Chaplin, attended the Sakharov Avenue meeting to support the action.

Among the participants in the rally were the Russian Club of Orthodox Patrons, the volunteer movement All-Russia People's Front and the public organization People's Council.

Before getting into the cars, participants chanted "Faith, Church, Motherland", "Hands off the Patriarch" and "Glory to Russia".

Activist of the Trade Union of Citizens of Russia Denis Nazarov said in an interview to Itar-Tass that his organization gave more than 500 stickers with the Easter inscription and more than 500 balloons. They were taken fast by coming drivers.

Explaining the reason to participate in the motor rally, Nazarov noted that the essence of the recent anti-church actions was that it was an attack not only against the patriarch alone, but against the country. "We will not allow taunting the Church," he stressed.

More than 1,500 people gathered for a similar meeting at Pushkin Square on Saturday afternoon.

"Our goal is not a number. Nobody sponsors us and organizes us. It is a free manifestation of solidarity with the Church and the patriarch," Nazarov said.

More than 20 bikers of the Moscow club Night Wolves participated in the motor rally.