NICOSIA, Cyprus: The Orthodox Church of Cyprus on Tuesday called for the withdrawal of the countrys controversial entry into this years Eurovision song contest titled El Diablo, charging that the song makes an international mockery of countrys moral foundations by advocating our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship.
The Holy Synod, the Churchs highest decision-making body, said in a statement that the song essentially praises the fatalistic submission of humans to the devils authority and urged the state broadcaster to replace it with one that expresses our history, culture, traditions and our claims.
With the Church now having officially weighed in, the controversy has taken on a new dimension after the song and its lyrics I gave my heart to el diablo … because he tells me Im his angel caused a stir among some in the east Mediterranean island nation, who consider it to be fraught with Satanic connotations.
The Churchs official stance came a few days after a man was charged with uttering threats and causing a disturbance when he barged onto the grounds of the public broadcaster to protest what he condemned as a blasphemous song that was an affront to Christianity.
Police said witnesses to Saturdays incident told investigators the man verbally accosted employees outside the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporations news department. Amateur video of the man confronting CyBC staff showed him screaming at a number of employees in the yard, asking how they could justify supporting such a song.
Vocal critics included a senior cleric, an organization representing theologians who teach in high schools, a far-right party and many ordinary Cypriots who took to social media to heap scorn and disgust at the song. However, many others defended the tune in social media posts as a simple ditty about a scorching love affair gone bad or to label its detractors as religious zealots.
CyBC Board Chairman Andreas Frangos insisted that the song wont be withdrawn and that it wasnt the broadcasters intention to insult anyones religious sentiments.
Speaking on the broadcasters midday news show, Frangos conceded that the broadcaster shouldve done a better job explaining the core message of the tune, which describes an abusive relationship between two lovers.
But the Cyprus Church rejected the broadcasters metaphorical interpretation of the tune, which it said in no way reflects the lyrics provocative and unacceptable content which doesnt cease to represent a terrible subculture that is completely at odds with our peoples values and goes against their Greek and Orthodox traditions.
The Church said it has received a deluge of reactions from thousands of people who express their justified disappointment over the song, including many respected musicians.
From whatever angle you chose to look it and whichever explanations are given about the lyrics of the song, they dont send the most ideal messages which must be sent from a semi-occupied homeland that struggles for freedom and to prevent its complete subjugation, the Holy Synods statement said.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. For centuries, the Church had been considered as the guardian of Greek Cypriots faith and ethnic identity.
Cyprus best-ever showing in the popular music competition was as runner-up in 2018 with the song El Fuego by singer Eleni Foureira.
The annual Eurovision contest is a beloved European institution watched by millions that often involves songs that are controversial, in questionable taste or just plain bad.
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