Moscow (AsiaNews) - Street demonstrations in support of the Russian Orthodox Church continue. After the motorcade in favour of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, under attack for a series of scandals that have emerged in the national media, on May 20 in the Russian capital took place another motorcade through the city centre took place, this time in favour of the "orthodox family and against abortion."

According to the Interfax news agency, it was attended by about 300 vehicles, many waving banners reading "Russia without abortions" - a variation of the slogans used by the opposition "Russia without Putin" - "Hands up for Patriarch Kirill" or "Build the 200 promised churches" referring to the project - approved last year by the Moscow but going slowly - for the construction of new places of worship in the city. "If the head of any government bans the construction of a church, ask for his resignation," motorcade organiser and leader of the Guild of the Orthodox Church, Kirill Frolov, told Interfax.

The renewed civic activism of Russian society, evident in the last months of unprecedented anti-government protests, is finding its counterpart also in the Orthodox community. The same Patriarchate of Moscow has promoted demonstrations such as the day in defence of the faith, which April 22 brought at least 40 thousand people to the front courtyard of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior "to protect orthodoxy from anti-Russians" as Kirill himself explained.