|PIC1|The Church is accusing the 51-year old pop singer of showing disrespect to Christianity and has urged Bulgarians to stay away from the show.

“We express our Christian support and approval for the art of singing, which influences the moral development of people and promotes universal moral values,” the Church said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“In some of her choreography and stage scenarios, this singer sends impressive messages which, however, run contrary to Christian morality,” the statement said.

Tuesday's statement accused Madonna of displaying "a disrespectful and intolerant attitude" to the feelings of Christians during her ongoing Sticky and Sweet tour.

It also deplores the fact that August 29 is a day of lent for Orthodox Christians marking the beheading of John the Baptist, the biblical preacher who baptised Jesus Christ and an important figure in the Orthodox faith.

Madonna will arrive in Sofia after a concert on Wednesday in neighbouring Romania.

According to the 2001 census of Bulgaria, Christians constitute 83 per cent of the country's nearly eight million people and the Orthodox Church continues to play an important role in the day to day life of many Bulgarians.

Madonna has faced strong criticism on previous tours when she crucified herself on a mirrored cross during her concerts. The pop diva wore a crown of thorns and sang while hanging from a cross on her “Confessions” world tour in 2006.