The Moscow Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church announced that the Russian Orthodox priest who performed his duties as a priest at the commemoration ceremony for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalni in March was suspended from his clerical duties for three years.
The diocese did not say in a statement published on its website Tuesday the reason for the sentence, which bans priest Dmitry Safronov from giving blessings, wearing cassocks and carrying the church’s priestly cross until 2027.
The decision was approved by Patriarch Kirill, who is known for his closeness to the Putin government. Safronov will also be transferred to another church in Moscow to fulfill the duties of hymn reader.
“At the end of the period of penance, a decision will be made about the possibility of returning to priestly service, based on comments from his new church,” the Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church said in a statement.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On March 26, Safronov organized a memorial service attended by thousands of people for Navalni, President Vladimir Putin’s harshest critic within Russia, who died in a prison in February at the age of 47.
Russian authorities refused to hand over Navalni’s body, citing the ongoing investigation.
The petition signed for the return of Navalni’s body to his family also includes the signature of the punished priest Safronov.
Tags: buried Navalni .. Russian priest suspended duty Minute World News
