Russian Church defrocks the priest who recorded video with Wagner Group

Photo: Vitaly Beliaev. Source: Kazan Reporter

Priest Vitaly Beliaev has been defrocked by the Russian Orthodox Church, according to the Orthodoxy in Tatarstan website.

Patriarch Kirill of the ROC confirmed the defrocking of Beliaev. The church court's decision stated that Beliaev was removed from his clerical duties due to violations of canons 17, 25, and 27 of the Holy Apostles and canon 9 of the Second Council of Constantinople.

Beliaev came under the scrutiny of the Kazan Eparchy's church court in February 2024 after he recorded a video in Kharkiv Oblast against the backdrop of Wagner Group flags. In the video, the priest accused church authorities of trying to prevent him from "supporting the Russian military".

As previously reported by the UOJ, another priest was defrocked by the ROC for refusing to recite a prayer for victory.

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