A group of demonstrators, holding crosses, religious icons, and other Christian symbols, gathered outside the Aristoteleion Theater in Thessaloniki in protest against the play by Christoforos Zaralikos. The protesters clashed with Greek police (ELAS), who responded with tear gas and carried out several detentions.

Dozens of demonstrators chanted the national anthem and the hymn Ti Ypermacho, expressing their strong opposition to the play’s promotional poster. The poster features comedian Christoforos Zaralikos wearing a crown of thorns and a tunic while holding money in his hands—a depiction the protesters deemed offensive.

Tensions Outside the Theater

The protesters arrived at the venue before the performance began and were met with a strong police presence. They jeered at theatergoers entering the venue before eventually engaging in altercations with riot police, as captured in videos published by Proto Thema.

Backlash Over the Poster

The poster has sparked outrage among extreme religious groups, who have labeled it “blasphemous” and have been staging protests outside theaters where Zaralikos performs his tour, “I’m Just an Employee Too”, aiming to disrupt the show.

“We won’t leave until the play is canceled,” some of the demonstrators declared. “We cannot allow this blasphemy to continue,” others added.

See Photos: