A mural called “Saint Javelin” has appeared in the Solomenskiy district of Kiev. It has already caused outrage at the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.
An image of a woman with a halo resembling the iconic image of the Virgin Mary holding a US Javelin anti-tank system has decorated the wall of a house on Antonov Aircraft Structures Street.
According to the Ukrainian media, the mural was created by four artists and financed by the Canadian-Ukrainian brand Saint Javelin.
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches pointed out that the mural appeared without proper public discussion.
“We, the faithful people of Ukraine, express categorical non-acceptance and protest to such expressions of public pseudo-art that use religious feelings and symbols as an object of parody,” the council said in a message, an excerpt from which TASS quotes.
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches has sent its protest about the mural to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. There has been no reaction from the authorities so far.
The “Saint Javelin” meme became popular after the start of the military special operation in Ukraine. Various goods are produced with this image, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski has a T-shirt with this image.