Russian Orthodox priests was defrocked for replacing victory with peace in Ukraine

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Orthodox priest Rev. Ioann Koval was defrocked by Moscow patriarch Kirill due to not obeying the Russian church order.

As AP reported Rev. Ioann Koval prayed for peace in Ukrain instead of praying for Russia`s victory in the war.

This is to mention that last September, President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists and Moscow patriarch Kirill required his clergymen to pray for victory.

Standing in front of the altar and dozens of his parishioners in one of Moscow’s churches, Koval decided to put the peace above the patriarch’s orders.

Ioann Koval now leads religious services in Turkey.

When the war started, most priests remained silent, fearing pressure from the church and state authorities; only a small fraction have spoken out. Of more than 40,000 clergymen in the Russian Orthodox Church, only 300 priests signed a public letter calling for peace in Ukraine.