The priest who led Navalny’s memorial service is prohibited from performing his duties / Article

The decision made by Patriarch Kirill on April 15 was published on Tuesday on the website of the Moscow City Diocese, and several channels of the “Telegram” communication website, including “Sota” and “Siren”, reported the media “Radio Free Europe/Radio Freedom”.

The document mentions that during these three years, Safronov was forbidden to give blessings, to wear the cassock of a Catholic priest and the priest’s cross.

In addition, the priest was also demoted to psalmist and sent to the church of the monk St. Pimen the Great in Moscow to perform the tasks assigned to him by the rector.

At the end of the three-year period, and depending on the feedback from the place of obedience, a decision will be made about his future opportunities to regain the priesthood.

The reasons for the punishment are not mentioned in the published document.

“Siren” and “Sota” also wrote that Safronov was at Alexei Navalny’s funeral and held a memorial service at his grave 40 days after the politician’s death.

Also, the priest had signed the call of the clergy to return Navalny’s remains to his family.

The clergyman has also not read the “Prayer for the Victory of Holy Russia”, reports the anonymous channel “Pravoslavije i zombi” (“Orthodoxy and zombies”) on the “Telegram” platform.

Since September 2022, the Bishopric of Moscow requires that this prayer be read in all synagogues.

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