Christmas Market Controversy: Pro-Russian Nuns Sparks Protest in Szczecin
A stall at the Szczecin Christmas market sparked controversy over the weekend, leading to a swift termination of the vendor’s contract. The stall, numbered 34, was run by nuns from the Orthodox monastery of St. Elizabeth in Minsk.
Concerns arose when activists and immigrants from Belarus, who reside in Szczecin, encountered the nuns’ stand. They recognized the women as members of a monastery known for its strong support of the Lukashenko regime in Belarus and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The monastery is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Olga Khomich, representing the Belarusian public initiative "Szczecin 646", voiced concerns about the nuns’ activities, stating: "These nuns travel to various events throughout Europe selling goods. Some of the money they earn goes towards supporting Lukashenko’s regime, while other funds are funneled directly to supporting the Russian military in Ukraine. They openly admit to purchasing equipment, vehicles, and even ammunition for Russian soldiers."
The activists decided to stage a protest in front of the nuns’ stall, bringing the issue to the attention of the market organizers.
Responding to the protest and after a careful review of the situation, the organizers immediately ended the nuns’ contract. Celina Wolosz, spokeswoman for the company managing the Szczecin market Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia, explained: "As soon as we became aware of their additional activities, we took action to prevent them from selling at the market any further."
This isn’t the first time the Belarusian nuns have faced scrutiny for their activities.
They were also seen at the Three Cultures Festival in Wlodawa in September and at the Wola Orthodox Cemetery in Warsaw during All Saints’ Day.
Separately, two pro-Russian activists were previously barred from entering Germany. They had been assisting the Russian army and eventually moved to Russia. In August of last year, German prosecutors conducted a search of their home in northwest Germany following a Reuters report that the money they raised from supporters in Germany was used to buy equipment for a Russian army unit fighting in Ukraine, including walkie-talkies, headphones and telephones.
How did the organizers of the Szczecin Christmas market respond to the concerns raised by the Belarusian community?
## Szczecin Christmas Market Controversy: A Conversation
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is [Guest Name], a spokesperson for the Belarusian community in Szczecin. [Guest Name], thank you for being here.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** We’ve been following the story of controversy surrounding a stall at the Szczecin Christmas market, run by nuns from the Orthodox monastery of St. Elizabeth in Minsk. Can you tell us what happened?
**Guest:** Absolutely. This past weekend, our community noticed a stall at the market run by these nuns. While it might seem innocuous on the surface, we recognized them as members of a monastery known to be very publicly supportive of the Lukashenko regime in Belarus and, by extension, the devastating war in Ukraine. This caused a lot of distress among Belarusian immigrants here in Szczecin, many of whom have fled the Lukashenko regime.
**Host:** So, it wasn’t just about the religious aspect, but also a deep political stance connected to the stall owners?
**Guest:** Exactly. For many of us, seeing them here at a festive event like a Christmas market felt like a slap in the face. It felt like the city was offering a platform to those who endorse a regime responsible for so much suffering.
**Host:** How did the situation unfold? Was there any official response?
**Guest:** We immediately brought our concerns to the attention of the market organizers. Thankfully, they listened to our concerns. They took swift action, terminating the nuns’ contract and removing the stall from the market.
**Host:** This is certainly a delicate situation. Did this incident cause any tensions within the community?
**Guest:** I would say it sparked important conversations about the need for sensitivity and vigilance. It’s crucial for public spaces to be welcoming and inclusive, and that includes being mindful of the wider political context.
**Host:** [Guest name], thank you for sharing your insights on this important issue.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
