June 19, 2022

A Peace-Loving Priest


A Peace-Loving Priest
A place of sanctuary. Vladimir60, the Russian Life files

A priest in St. Petersburg, Ioann Kurmoyarov, was jailed for allegedly distributing false information regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A YouTube video posted on March 22, 2022, features Kurmoyarov condemning those who launched the invasion. From a religious perspective, he says, these individuals will not gain entrance to heaven; rather, they will be condemned to hell.

On June 7, Kurmoyarov was arrested, and his personal belongings, including electronics and religious icons, were seized. On June 11, Kurmoyarov was taken into custody. He is now awaiting trial at the St. Petersburg Kalininsky District Court, and could faces from five to ten years of incarceration if convicted.

Kurmoyarov is yet another example of how public opposition to Russia's invasion can be extremely dangerous in Russia. Yet, at the same time, a growing number of public figures are speaking out.

Kurmoyarov's actions are particularly surprising for an Orthodox priest, as the Russian Orthodox Church is a stalwart, and normally subservient, ally of the Kremlin.

You Might Also Like

Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia
  • June 14, 2022

Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia

A well-known science fiction author has been placed on the Kremlin's wanted list for protesting the war in Ukraine.
A Soccer Star Speaks Out
  • June 16, 2022

A Soccer Star Speaks Out

Nadya Karpova demonstrated bravery in expressing both her sexuality and her stance on the war in Ukraine.
An Attack on Sea Life
  • June 11, 2022

An Attack on Sea Life

Over 600 dolphins died and washed up on the coast of the Black Sea bordering Russia and Ukraine. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955