A Moscow region priest who supported Pussy Riot has been suspended from service for five years, ostensibly for repeatedly failing to show up to church and for traveling abroad without the blessing of his bosses.
Dmitry Sverdlov, who was appointed cleric to the Cathedral of All Russian Saints in the Moscow region town of Domodedovo in September, has not attended a single mass since then and hasn't provided a written explanation for it, RIA-Novosti reported Thursday, citing the Moscow Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Sverdlov has been described in media reports as a priest who wanted to apologize on the part of the church to the three female Pussy Riot rockers who were sentenced to two-year prison terms in August over performing an anti-President Vladimir Putin song at a Moscow cathedral.
At his previous position in 2012, as the superior of the Peter and Paul Temple in the village of Pavlovskoye in the Domodedovo district, Sverdlov repeatedly traveled abroad without the blessing of his senior boss, the church said.
As a result, Sverdlov was demoted from a superior to a cleric on Monday, the Moscow Eparchy said on its website Wednesday.
Earlier, in February, Sverdlov asked his boss to relieve him of his post as a superior over "pastoral burnout" and "chronic fatigue" and leave him on part-time as a priest, but his request was turned down.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
