Bell ringers of St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda have been officially forbidden to perform rock hits on bells.

      At the beginning of April bell ringers were featured on one of the Russian federal TV channels. They were broadcasted while performing a version of one of the Beatles songs.

      The TV spot caused panic among Vologda churched public and representatives of the local diocese. Representatives of the Vologda diocese addressed the authority of the memorial estate, which the belltower is held in trust of.

      The churchmen declared that bell ringing “clears of radiation”, whereas “the Beatles’ music turns us into zombies”.

      The memorial estate director Alexander Suvorov assured that the museum management is aware of itself as the keeper of not only cultural and spiritual traditions. He explained to the Russian Orthodox Church officials and journalists: “Such news is accounted for by the liberty of bell ringers and journalists’ love for scandal material. The management will control everything that is performed on the belltower of St. Sophia Cathedral. The repertoire is not going to break traditions of the Russian church bell ringing”.