Largest Satanic gathering in history convenes in Boston despite Christian backlash

On Friday, hundreds of SatanCon festival goers descended on Boston, sparking backlash from religious organizations who set up counter events across the city.

According to the Daily Mail, the event is the "largest Satanic gathering in history" celebrating the Satanic Temple’s 10th Anniversary and Christian crowds gathered outside the conference and around the city to "flood the streets with worship and God’s word." Revive Boston leader Dr. James Sideras said, "while they think they are going to ambush Boston, little do they know that God has planned to ambush them."

Sideras' organization set up a counter event  proclaimed as a weekend of "revival." According to the report, they set up a conference at a hotel less than a mile from the Satanist convention, where they plan to give prayer lessons before flooding the streets with worship and God’s word.

According to the Catholic News Agency, the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is also planning to use "intense prayer" to counter the event. Spokesman for the archdiocese, Terrence Donilon, said, "At the direction of the cardinal [Sean O’Malley], we are approaching it through a response balanced and focused on prayer."

"We are finalizing a list of places throughout our whole archdiocese where we will gather in adoration and prayer. All of our shrines have agreed to be a part of this, and most of our monasteries," Donilon said. "Our men and women religious will be invited to more intense prayer during that weekend. In addition, many of our parishes will be opening up during the three days ... for adoration and Masses with this intention."

Other groups, including the Patriot Front, took a more confrontational approach by demonstrating right outside the venue. Many protests were holding signs and brandishing crucifixes as attendees entered the building. 

According to its website, the Satanic Temple encourages, "Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits."

One event goer claimed, "We're just like everybody else. We pay our taxes, we want our communities to improve and do better. We love our kids just like everybody else. We're just normal people, we just believe a little differently."

The event opened with one speaker screaming "hail Satan" before tearing up a bible and other speakers performing "un-baptisms."