Sylvain Durif (or Sylvain Pierre Durif) is a French internet personality known for broadcasting videos on YouTube between 2011 and 2012 where he claimed to be the "cosmic Christ".
Sylvain Durif is from Ain[1]. He lives in Bugarach[2],[3],[4],[5].
In 2004, he created a company Elvita in the publishing of application software[6].
Since 2017 he has lived in Senegal in Toubab Dialo[7].
Media presence edit
In December 2012, when nearly 250 journalists came to Bugarach, for the end of the Mayan calendar, for the esoteric and mystical stories of the place, he stood out for his remarks[8],[9],[10] ,[11],[12],[13],[14].
Following his notable media appearances, and the relay his interventions had on the internet, he was described as “the most famous person in Bugarach” by Libération[15].
The mayor of Bugarach, Jean-Pierre Delord, describes it in these words: “The sad comedy? Ah yes, he’s heavy! He's a preacher, really high-pitched..."[15].
Mystical discourse edit
Questioned by journalists, he declared that he embodied "the energy of the cosmic Christ" announced by "Nostradamus" and called himself "Oriana"[16], "Sylvanus", "the Green Man", "Merlin the Enchanter", " the Great Monarch” or even the “cosmic Christ”[17].
Through his company Elvita[18] he creates projects[19] which will, for example, build a “city of light” in order to spread “peace on earth and in the cosmos”[4],[20]. Furthermore, he claims to have healing powers like Jesus[4].
He explains the existence of underground life on Earth, explaining that there was "a network of cities of lights called the Agatha Network".[21]
He clarifies that he “[is] not the leader of a sectarian cult”[4].
Mockery and usurpation edit
His presence on the internet has exposed him to various criticisms about his physique, his way of expressing himself or even his ideas[21]. The videographer Amixem made a video entitled “Let's analyze the highest man in the world” and the hacker Ulcan harassed him and tried to extract 10,000 euros from him[21].
His identity on the internet is regularly usurped, as if to announce his supposed death. Facebook groups are created and spread false rumors[22],[23].
Living conditions modify
Sylvain Durif lives in precarious conditions. During a trip he made to Quebec, he lived on the street, sleeping in homeless shelters at night.[21]
In his intention to "save humanity" he is hampered by financial problems[24] and tries to monetize his interviews[25].
Candidacy for the presidential election edit
Local elections edit
In 2013, he was a candidate for municipal elections in the town of Arques, near Bugarach[26],[1].
In 2014, he ran as a candidate in the 2015 French departmental elections in the canton of Couiza[20]. His application was unsuccessful.
Presidential election edit
In 2016, he declared his intention to run in the French presidential election[15],[27]. He was then questioned by several media outlets which reported his declaration of candidacy[28],[24],[27],[29]. He presents his program on Facebook[30].
His main project is to “establish paradise as the last king of France and last pope”[17], he also wishes to “bring peace on earth and in the cosmos in order to establish paradise”[31].
He accuses the Nordpresse site of having “scuttled his chances in the elections” by taking his ideas with humor[21].
He does not obtain the 500 sponsorships necessary to participate in the election.
Controversies and positions edit
He feeds a conspiratorial narrative[32], and accuses politicians of being infiltrated by reptilians[33], but his speeches are received by the public as a joke[32].
He therefore believes that the attacks of November 13, 2015 are “the work of the French government which pledges allegiance to the Illuminati network”[33].