One of the biggest service provider on the internet, US-based Yahoo has re-posted an article with pictures showing that the crosses of Greek Orthodox churches on iconic Santorini have been removed.
In an article promoting vacations in Greece, crosses from churches were simply airbrushed or made almost invisible at first sight.
Cross can be hardly seen and only with the help of a magnifying glass
“The 50 Best Things to Do in Greece” was initially posted on US digital media company purewow.com and re-posted by Yahoo News, exposing the churches without the religious symbols to millions if no billions of viewers worldwide.
Thumbnail picture on Yahoo re-posted from purewow.
I can’t say whether posting pictures of churches without crosses is intentional or due to pure ignorance.
In contrast and for some unknown reasons, the tiny church of Agios Ioannis in Kastri on the island of Skopelos managed to escaped the sacrilegious intervention.
While on Yahoo News the pictures do not have the copy right, on purewow the pictures are shown to be owned by Getty Images.
Therefore: Who removed the crosses? Or is it just an issue of low resolution?
Two years ago, a Greek and international outcry broke out, when cheap supermarket chain Lidl had removed the cross from the churches on Santorini on packages with Greek-style food products.
Following the worldwide protests, Lidl apologized saying “Our intention has never been to shock, we avoid the use of religious symbols on our packaging to maintain neutrality in all religions, and if it has been perceived differently, we apologize to those who may have been shocked.”
PS Depriving churches from their crosses for the sake of political correctness? I don’t think so. Whether religious or not, the move is offensive as religion is part of the culture, whether in Greece or else where. What is the purpose of using emblematic churches when one removes their main symbol, the cross?
Removing the crosses is a grievous insult
When I see a religious building I expect a religious symbol. Who makes these ridiculous decisions? If I am buying rice I do not buy it based on the religion of the farmer, if I holiday in a Muslim country I am not in the least offended by the crescent, in a Christian country I expect a church to display a cross. Is the god of profit such a weak god? Religions acknowledge evil and universally fight against it, they do not naively try to airbrush it. I may be deeply offended by another faith’s doctrines and beliefs, but I will never be offended by their right to strongly defend them! Removing the ambassador does not lessen the power of the office.
Really get worried if they start substituting the crosses with crescent moons!