RPTs PRIEST FIGHTS IN DONBASS AGAINST UKRAINE WITH AUTOMATIC GUN IN HANDS
Religiia v Ukraine, 20 January 2014
Priest Artemy Egurny, a cleric of the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs), is fighting with a weapon in his hands against Ukraine on the side of the Luhansk People's Republic, a correspondent of the portal Religiia v Ukraine reports.
Priest Artemy Egurny announces this in
photographs posted on his personal page on VKontakte. In
particular, on 16 January the priest posted a photograph from the
site of events, signing the picture: "Chapaev Street, Luhansk,
Ukraine." In the picture, Father Artemy in combat gear and with an
automatic weapon in his hands poses with a fighter of the Luhansk
People's Republic, that is recognized in Ukraine as a terrorist
organizations.
On the website of the St. Petersburg metropolia of RPTs, Father Artemy is listed as a priest of the church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God (Piskarev Prospect) in St. Petersburg and as a cleric of the St. Petersburg diocese of RPTs.
The author of a journal "Notes of a Numismatist," who posted for the first time a photo report on a terrorist priest, comments thus: "The 'spiritual bonds' of the RPTs may easily shock the immature minds of Russian laity. A priest from St. Petersburg has decided to find out what will happen if he violates the commandment 'Thou shall not kill.' Since the fashion in the Russian federation became to kill Ukrainians, then without thinking twice he dashed off to Luhansk." The blogger wants to know what will be the reaction of the leadership of RPTs to the participation of a priest in combat. According to church rules, such clerics are forbidden to perform priestly ministry.
Meanwhile, in 2014 clergy of the St. Petersburg and Moscow dioceses solemnly delivered to troops the "Militia" icon. In the same diocese last year, Priest Nikolai Savchenko was punished for a sermon against the war between Russia and Ukraine. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 January 2015)
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