Pussy Riot forgiven by Russian Orthodox Church

THE Church's absolution may be little comfort for the band, who face two years in jail.

RELIGIOUS leaders in Russia say they have forgiven feminist rockers Pussy Riot for performing a punk prayer in a cathedral.

The three members of the band ? Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 ?were jailed for two years on Friday after being convicted of ?hooliganism motivated by religious hatred?.

They were found guilty of protesting in a Russian Orthodox Church ? the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow ? against the church leader?s support of president Vladimir Putin.

Tikhon Shevkunov, who heads Moscow?s Sretensky Monastery, said: ?The church has been sometimes accused of not forgiving. We did forgive them from the very start but such actions should be cut short by society and authorities.?

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov agreed but added that he hopes the women, and their supporters, will change their ways.

He said: ?We are praying and hoping these young women and all the people shouting in front of the court building ? committing sacrilegious acts not only in Russia but in other countries ? realise their acts are awful.

?Despite this, the church is asking for mercy within the limits of law.?

However, both clerics supported the court?s decision to prosecute the band.

Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/pussy-riot-forgiven-1268977

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