AFTER APPEARANCE OF HIGHLY PUBLICIZED VIDEO, BISHOP FEOFILAKT TEMPORARILY STRIPPED OF RIGHT OF PRIESTLY MINISTRY
The case of the vicar abbot of the Andreev monastery, Bishop of Mytishchi Feofilakt, is being studied by the General Church Disciplinary Commission; meanwhile he is suspended from priestly ministry. This was reported on Sunday to TASS by the deputy chancellor of the Moscow patriarchate, Bishop of Zelenogread Savva.
Earlier, there appeared on the YouTube video service and Telegram channels a video in which it is shown how, during the liturgy in a church, the bishop tried to strike a priest who was serving with him in the head. The description of the recording said that this happened in the Andreev stauropegial (immediately subordinate to the patriarch) men's monastery. On Saturday, Patriarch Kirill temporarily suspended the 72-year-old Bishop Feofilakt from the offices of vicar abbot of the Andreev monastery, assistant to the first vicar bishop of the patriarch for the city of Moscow, and administrator of the south-western vicariate of the capital.
"After the appearance of the video recording, a preliminary investigation was begun on the basis of which the decision you mentioned was made. The Vladyka actually will not serve until a complete investigation of the case in the General Church Disciplinary Commission is completed," Bishop Savva said, responding to a question about whether Bishop Feofilakt is under church investigation without the right of ministry. The deputy chancellor of the Moscow patriarchate also noted that "since this involves a bishop, results of the investigation will be presented to His Holiness the patriarch and the Holy Synod."
Patriarch Kirill assigned the temporary administration of the Andreev cloister to the head of the synodal Department of Monasteries and Monasticism, the abbot of the Don monastery, Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost, and the temporary administration of the south-western vicariate to the chairman of the synodal Department of Charity, Bishop of Vereya Panteleimon, who administers the eastern vicariate of Moscow.
Bishop Feofilakt was appointed vicar abbot of the Andreev monastery in July 2013. In May 2021 he also was dismissed from the office of acting first deputy chancellor of the Moscow patriarchate. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 November 2021)
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