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.

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