Pub owner gets fined over providing ‘blood of Jesus’
Date
7/16/2024 8:42:54 AM
(MENAFN) A bar owner in St. Petersburg has been fined for utilizing Christian iconography to market alcoholic beverages, leading to a legal case that has drawn attention to the intersection of religion and business. Sophie Noskova-Avramovich, the owner of the establishment known as S’aint, was penalized after a complaint was filed by a patron who felt that the bar’s decor and menu were offensive to their religious beliefs.
The St. Petersburg court found Noskova-Avramovich guilty of violating Article 148 of the Russian Criminal Code, which addresses offenses against religious sentiments. She was imposed a fine of 30,000 rubles (approximately USD342), according to city judiciary spokeswoman Darya Lebedeva.
Lebedeva detailed that the bar’s interior featured various Christian symbols, including a prominent pink neon cross, which, along with other design elements, contributed to a hedonistic theme considered inappropriate from a Christian perspective. The bar's menu notably included drinks named 'The Blood of Jesus,' 'The Sorrow of Madonna,' 'Personal Jesus,' 'Ave Maria,' and 'Judas' Kiss,' all employing religious imagery to promote the alcoholic offerings.
The court ruled that Noskova-Avramovich's actions exhibited “explicit contempt for society” and were disrespectful to the “religious feelings” of her patrons. According to Lebedeva, the defendant's approach to the bar’s branding included the use of Christian symbols such as images of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Grail, and Jesus Christ on the cross.
The bar, which is styled with “Medieval aesthetics,” reportedly drew inspiration from Paolo Sorrentino’s TV series 'The Young Pope,' featuring actor Jude Law as a fictional pope. The controversy surrounding the bar reflects ongoing tensions in Russia regarding the relationship between religious beliefs and public expression, particularly in the context of the hospitality industry.
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