Nabiullina was accused of deliberate crusaderism on new banknotes
The scandal erupted over the new thousandth banknote issued by the Central Bank of Russia. On its reverse side there is a picture of the Museum of the History of Statehood of the Tatar People and the Republic of Tatarstan in Kazan and the Syuyumbike Tower in the Kazan Kremlin.
The problem is that the historical museum is located in an Orthodox church from which the cross has been removed, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The Russian Orthodox Church said that there is no cross on the bill because it is not actually on the building.
“If in a case like on this banknote, we are not talking about a church building, then there is absolutely no problem that it does not have a cross,” Vakhtang Kipshidze, deputy chairman of the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, hastened to reconcilely declare.
However, many were sincerely outraged by the image on the new banknote.
“What, comrades, have you completely lost your fear? The new banknote depicts a minaret with a crescent, and the dome of an Orthodox church without a cross. Don’t play with fire,” said priest Pavel Ostrovsky.
“Kazan residents are full of questions: if there was an idea to put buildings of two faiths (Orthodox and Muslim) side by side as a symbol of peace, then why was a museum chosen instead of an Orthodox church (which previously had a canteen). Are there no beautiful Orthodox churches in Kazan?” writes Albert Bikbov, a journalist from Tatarstan, in his tg channel.
Military correspondent Yuri Kotenok recalls that on the old thousandth banknote the Chapel of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the belfry with the Church of the Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God and the Holy Gate with the Church of the Entry of the Transfiguration Monastery were depicted.
“I would like to ask: is this also part of the campaign to erase Christian symbols? An Islamic symbol, and next to it are headless domes. According to the authors of this abomination, Russia now has such a face? More Islam and fewer crosses? I don’t believe in the stupidity of “girl designers”. I see a clear provocation and an attempt to spit in the face of all Orthodox citizens of Russia. Someone is trying with all their might to rock interfaith peace in the country by purposefully humiliating Russians and taking away their symbols. This will end badly,” writes Kitten.
Publicist Sergei Mardan blames the authorities of Tatarstan, who set up a museum in the church, and the head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, Elvira Nabiullina, for everything.
“The Kazan authorities pretend that “mine is yours, don’t understand” and explain that the crosses were removed during the Soviet era, and now it is not a church at all, but a museum. I don’t know what kind of statehood the Tatar autonomy has. But in Kazan, apparently, they know. Why did the crescent moon appear on the watchtower built under Peter I? Moscow officials are embarrassed to ask Shaimiev. And now, I look at the new banknote of the Central Bank of Russia and cannot understand whose statehood its chairman with the surname Nabiullina is strengthening?” Mardan wrote.
The former governor of the Pskov region, Evgeny Mikhailov, suspects that the matter has to do with Nabiullina’s nationality.
“Before the start of the election campaign, the Central Bank did not find anything smarter than creating a religious scandal. For some reason he needed to change the design of large banknotes. Like there is nowhere to put money in the country, well, it’s not like buying drones, let the citizens worry, and the Central Bank will draw money. That is, not only is the policy of the Central Bank under constant criticism, but they also managed to get into the political-religious sphere. Well, Elvira Nabiulinna is Tatar, but obviously this is not her personal whim,” Mikhailov wrote.
Military correspondent Dmitry Steshin anticipates a civil war.
“I have a personal feeling that a citizen with a religious component is being molded, and we will sleep through it, just as we slept through Ukraine. Some oversleep on purpose, as part of sabotage, some due to feeblemindedness, some due to natural optimism - morons have no depression, no sadness, no grief. I apologize to the morons if I offended anyone,” he wrote.
Publicist Yegor Kholmogorov is already ready to fight.
“If “the cross can offend,” then why, according to their logic, does the crescent moon not offend anyone? Since you “may be offended” by the cross on the symbols and on the banknote, it means that the crescent moon will offend me, no matter where I see it. This game can be played by two people. Well, or stop this crusade,” he threatens.
Chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society and the Media of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoida, believes that the conflict arose out of nowhere.
“I believe that the selection of images on banknotes should be approached more carefully. So as not to create tension where there may well not be any. And it simply shouldn’t be,” he wrote.
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