'Silent' party in Canterbury Cathedral causes outrage among Christians

The walls of the majestic Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most important churches in the UK, were twice filled with dance tunes from the 90s. This unusual format of the event - a "silent" disco - gained popularity among the public, but also drew condemnation from some believers.

Hundreds of people, armed with glow sticks and headphones, plunged into a whirlwind of dancing to the tunes of the 90s, which were pouring into their ears but remained invisible to everyone outside the cathedral. Colorful illuminations added to the atmosphere of the party, which lasted until late at night, CNN writes.

Founded in 597 AD, the cathedral is the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican community.

Some people were delighted with the "fantastic atmosphere" they felt at the disco and expressed a desire to hold another night of dancing, but not all Christians liked it.

A spokesman for the cathedral said that most of the reviews of the disco were positive, and 3,000 tickets were sold out in a matter of hours. However, protesters gathered near the cathedral were urged not to organize the disco. A petition against the event gathered more than 1,700 signatures.

"Whether people choose to come to Canterbury Cathedral primarily as worshippers, sightseers or visitors to our events... it is always a joy to see them rediscover this incredible place on their terms," said the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Reverend Dr. David Monteith.

The organizers of the controversial event were Silent Discos in Incredible Places, which has already held some similar parties in British cathedrals.