Russia to demonstrate against screening of Da Vinci Code

Moscow, May 18 (UNI) A group of Orthodox believers plan to demonstrate against the screening of controversial film ''Da Vinci Code'' here.

''The goal of the protest demonstration is to attract the attention of Orthodox believers to the ever-growing number of offensive attacks on Jesus Christ,'' the press service of the Union of Orthodox Citizens told Interfax news agency here yesterday.

It said the movie was ''a link in a chain of propaganda mass culture works aimed at persuading the viewer that Jesus Christ was a common person''.

Meanwhile, Archpriest Mikhail Kozlov, rector of St Tatiana's at Moscow State University and associate professor of Moscow Theological Academy, has called upon the Orthodox public to stage an active democratic protest against the screening ofthe film.

''We should keep insisting that Da Vinci Code is a phenomenon of public consciousness that insults millions of our compatriots,'' Father Mikhail said.

He proposed that Orthodox public organisations see to it by filing suits that each show of Da Vinci Code be preceded with a warning that to watch this film is to participate in sacrilege towards the Founder of Christian religion, Lord Jesus Christ.

The rector of the University Church also supported holding a campaign against film distribution organisations for insulting religious sentiments.

''The price of victory in this struggle can be expressed in roubles, but what is more important is to see to it that the assertion that Da Vinci Code presents slander and insult as facts of literature and cinematography becomes a fact of mass consciousness,'' Father Maxim said.

He stressed the main negative consequence of the mass distribution of Da Vinci Code would be that it will make many people outside the church fold understand Christianity in a false light.

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