ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 1 - RAPSI. The Rostov Regional Prosecutor's Office expects to review a local resident's request to ban the "Jesus Christ - Superstar" rock opera in the local Philharmonic Society by October 18.

The show's opening night has been scheduled for October 18, the office told RIA Novosti on Monday.

The source said the complaint was filed in late September.

"The applicant has stated that putting on the opera will hurt the feelings of local believers," he said. "The review of the case is likely to finish by October 18."

The local Metropolia has expressed its surprise with the complaint. According to the church, a private position on an issue does not express the opinions of all believers, which can only be expressed by ecumenical councils or by the metropolitan. Opinions regarding the opera have always been diverse within the church.

RIA Novosti has yet to reach the authorities for comment. Nevertheless, according to the Philharmonic Society, the rock opera will be shown as scheduled.

"Jesus Christ - Superstar" was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in 1970 and staged the following year. This past March, the Russian-language version of the performance was canceled in four of five Belarusian cities due to protests by believers. It was only shown in Brest.