Tallinn, Estonia, September 5, 2022
In concert, the members of Batushka blasphemously wear the schema, the vestment of monastics as seen in this photo of an Orthodox monk. Photo: zen.yandex.ru
The Estonian Orthodox Church was unpleasantly surprised to learn that the blasphemous Polish black metal band Batushka was scheduled to play in Tallinn on Friday.
As the Church emphasizes, the organizers of the event call the band’s music “anti-Orthodox preaching.”
Batushka was formed by Krzysztof Drabikowski in Białystok, Poland, in 2015. Drabikowski spent six years studying at the famous Supraśl Monastery and is well acquainted with Orthodox services and hymnography. But instead of honoring the Lord, he uses his music to mock and blaspheme all things sacred.
“Batushka made a splash in the underground with their 2015 debut album, ‘Литоургиіа,’ a.ka. Litourgiya (in English, ‘Liturgy’), their whole production reading as a particularly evil inversion of divine language, music and ritual,” reads a 2019 Revolver article about the band.
As the new Church statement notes, their concerts have caused scandals in many countries. A series of concerts in Russia had to be canceled “due to security reasons” when Orthodox faithful picketed their show, one band member told Revolver.
The Estonian Church’s full statement reads:
We were surprised to learn that in Tallinn on September 2, 2022, from 7:00 to 11:00 PM, the Tapper Rock club will host a performance of a black metal band from Poland Batushka, whose work the organizers of the event openly call “anti-Orthodox preaching.”
This group uses the attributes of Orthodox worship in its musical productions, in particular icons, candles, and crosses, blasphemously treating Christian symbols. In addition, the lyrics and album titles of the band use Orthodox Church terminology, for example, the words “Liturgy,” “panikhida,” “litany,” “irmos,” etc. At the same time, the compilers of the texts alter the content of Christian prayers and texts from the Holy Scriptures in such a way that they become obvious blasphemy.
We believe that the anti-Christian nature of the work of this group, including the blasphemous treatment of Christian symbols, offends not only the sensibilities of Orthodox believers, but also believers of other Christian denominations. The group’s performances have already caused scandals and protests from believers in a number of countries.
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