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Video of Orthodox bishop's physical abuse leads to scandal

PATRIARCH KIRILL SUSPENDS BISHOP BECAUSE OF VIDEO WITH ASSAULT OF A PRIEST IN MOSCOW

RIA Novosti, 27 November 2021

 

Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill temporarily relieved Bishop of Mytishchi Feofilakt from the leadership of the Andreev stauropegial (directly subordinate to the patriarch) men's monastery and also from the responsibility as assistant to the first patriarchal vicar bishop for Moscow because of a video with a physical assault on a priest during the liturgy.

 

Earlier there appeared on the web a recording in which, allegedly, during the worship service the bishop took a swing at or struck a priest concelebrating with him. The person who took the video claims that the incident occurred in the Andreev monastery in Moscow, which the patriarchal vicar Bishop of Mytishchi Feofilakt has administered since 16 July 2013, according to information from the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

 

The patriarchal order, which was published on the website of the Moscow city diocese, says: "Temporarily to suspend the exercise by His Grace Bishop of Mytishchi Feofilakt, the assistant to the first vicar of His Holiness the patriarch, of the responsibility of the vicar abbot of Andreev stauropegial monastery, who administers the southwestern vicariate of the city of Moscow, assigning the temporary administration of the monastery to his Beatitude Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost and the temporary administration of the vicariate to his Eminence Bishop of Vereya Panteleimon."

 

A source in the Moscow patriarchate subsequently declared to RIA that such conduct cannot have any moral justification.

 

Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost also is the vicar abbot of the Don stauropegial monastery in Moscow. Bishop of Vereya Panteleimon heads the synodal Department for Church Charitable and Social Ministry of the Moscow patriarchate. (tr. by PDS, posted 28 November 2021)

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