Russian Orthodox Church Expels Priest for Refusing to Pray for Victory in Ukraine War

2024-01-14 21:22:49

Moscow – Holy Trinity Church vicar Alexei Uminsky has been fired by the church for disobeying the order of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill Patriarch, to pray for the success of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Uminsky had been serving as a priest for 30 years. The ecclesiastical court found that disobeying the order was a violation of the priest’s oath and decided to expel him. The Russian Orthodox Church fully supports the Russian military action in Ukraine. The church had taken action against more than a dozen priests who did not support the war. An open letter signed by 11,627 believers against the expulsion of Uminsky has been sent to the church leadership.

Meanwhile, Oleg Gumenyuk, the former mayor of Vladivostok, who was in prison for corruption, went to the front for military service in Ukraine. Last year, the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Release was granted on the condition of participating in the war.

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