Russian Orthodox Church head suspends priest who led memorial service for Alexey Navalny

[Steve Hayes]

Russian Orthodox Church head suspends priest who led memorial service
for Alexey Navalny

12:45 am, April 24, 2024

Source: Meduza https://t.co/u8EsJh85jZ

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has imposed
a three-year suspension on the priest who held a memorial service at
Alexey Navalny’s grave in late March. Priest Dmitry Safronov, a cleric
of the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin on Lyschikova
Hill in Moscow, is now forbidden from giving blessings, wearing the
frock, and bearing the church’s priestly cross until 2027, at which
time his future in the clergy will be reassessed, Patriarch Kirill
decreed. The Patriarch’s order does not explain why he suspended
Safronov from conducting services.

Safronov led the memorial service 40 days after Navalny’s death,
observing a religious rite of major significance in Eastern Orthodox
Christianity. Even before the funeral, Safronov publicly called on the
state authorities to release Navalny’s body to Navalny’s mother as
officials dithered for nine days about relinquishing the dead
politician’s remains. Additionally, according to reports on an
anonymously run Telegram channel, Safronov has refused to read the
church’s war-themed “Prayer for the Victory of Holy Rus,” despite
orders from the Moscow Diocese.

Source:
<https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/04/24/russian-orthodox-church-head-suspends-priest-who-led-memorial-service-for-alexey-navalny?utm_source=email&utm_medium=briefly&utm_campaign=2024-04-24>


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Comment

Though the article does not explain why he was suspended, I believe it
was most probably because of his refusal to say the militaristic
prayer ordered by the Patriarch. I doubt that he would or could be
suspended for serving a Memorial for an Orthodox Christian.

Does anyone have the text of this militaristic prayer, with an English
translation?

It could be good to have a theological analysis of it.

[Ivan Farlenkov]

Post by Steve Hayes
Russian Orthodox Church head suspends priest who led memorial service
for Alexey Navalny

There is a reason why church and state should stay separate.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Ivan Farlenkov

Post by Steve Hayes
Russian Orthodox Church head suspends priest who led memorial service
for Alexey Navalny

There is a reason why church and state should stay separate.

Aye, that there is -- see here:

<https://khanya.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/the-church-as-the-liberated-zone/>