A liberal priest faces expulsion from the Russian Orthodox Church for refusing to read a prayer asking God to lead Russia to victory over Ukraine.
In accordance with ReutersThe church court ruled that Alexy Uminsky should be “expelled from the priesthood” for violating the priestly oath. The decision was sent for approval to Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Church, who strongly supports President Vladimir Putin.
The court said Uminsky had broken his oath by refusing to recite the “Prayer for Holy Rus’” (an archaic name for Russia), which Kirill had made mandatory at church services. “Behold, those who want to fight have taken up arms against Holy Rus’, hoping to divide and destroy its united people,” reads a prayer first uttered by Kirill on September 25, 2022, seven months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Arise, O God, to help Your people and give us victory by Your power.”
Dozens of Russian Orthodox priests have been punished for challenging the Church’s line on the war, according to Christians Against War, cited by Christians Against War. Reuters.