ROAC Metropolitan Valentin (Rusantsov) beaten in Suzdal

On October 13, Metropolitan of Suzdal and Vladimir Valentin (Rusantsov) (Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church) was beaten by unknown persons.

According to investigators, the attackers entered the Synodal House with the aim of robbery. Panagias and sacred vessels were taken out of the house church, then the thieves tried to open the safe. At the same time, the hooligans beat the 66-year-old Metropolitan unconscious, injuring his jaw and legs.

According to Credo.ru , in Suzdal, shortly before the incident, the Nashe Delo organization, which had long been fighting against the ROAC, resumed its activities. Residents of the city associate the activation of "Our cause" with the preparations for the election of the mayor of Suzdal. Credo.ru believes that at the same time members of the organization are trying to stop the activities of the ROAC.

On October 14, an emergency meeting of the ROAC Synod of Bishops was held in Suzdal, at which an appeal was made to international and Russian human rights organizations with a request to pay attention to the oppression of ROAC believers and the head of the Church, Metropolitan Valentine. According to the authors of the document, "the ROC MP, together with the local authorities, set out to destroy the ROAC and its First Hierarch."

"Once again, we earnestly ask you to do everything possible to end the persecution, discrimination against the rights of ROAC believers, stop lawlessness, express your protest against the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church and its First Hierarch, Metropolitan Valentine.

We ask you to stand up for our civil rights," the ROAC Synod of Bishops said in a statement.

In addition, the clergy and parishioners of St. Tsar-martyr Nicholas II and all the new martyrs of Russia at the Golovinsky cemetery in Moscow turned to the chairman of the movement "For Human Rights" L.A. Ponomarev.

"... Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, who only benefit from the destruction of our Church, act in the closest cooperation with the authorities and feel their complete impunity," believers say. "The latest in time and most tragic incident in essence was the attack on Metropolitan Valentine, which was committed in the evening on the eve of the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.Unknown persons broke down the doors of a house located just a few dozen meters from the building of the city traffic police, burst inside and severely beat an elderly man weakened by numerous ailments.The nature of their actions, despite the loss of some things, allows I can say with complete certainty that the goal was not profit, but the infliction of irreparable harm to the health of our Metropolitan.However, in the light of the foregoing, one can be sure that without a change in the approach of the authorities to everything that concerns our Church, those responsible for the attack will not be found.

Therefore, we demand an immediate and impartial investigation of all illegal actions committed against members of the ROAC and its property throughout Russia. The attitude of the authorities towards everyone who does not share the point of view of the leaders of the Moscow Patriarchate should be brought into line with the norms of the current legislation as soon as possible.

On February 20, 2006, the Orthodox magazine "Vertograd" reported that the Dean of the Krasnodar District of the Russian Orthodox Church, Fr. Nikolai Hirny sent letters to the Suzdal prosecutor's office and the mayor of the city demanding that those responsible for the attack on Metr. Valentine, and also to ensure the safety of the First Hierarch in the future. The letters were signed by 145 parishioners of Fr. Nicholas.

At the same time, addressing the mayor A.Yu. Ryzhov, Fr. Nikolai wrote that it was the head of the administration of Suzdal who was responsible for the persecution of the ROAC over the past few years. However, the official response of the Suzdal authorities notes that on October 16, 2005, S.B. was elected the head of the city. Godunin.

On March 23, Vertograd , citing Suzdal Diocesan Gazette, reported that the Suzdal city and district police department had suspended the investigation into the attack on Metropolitan Valentin "due to failure to identify the person involved as an accused." This is stated in an official notice dated March 2 and sent to the Metropolitan on March 14 from the GROVD.

“The residents of Suzdal,” Vertograd reports, “immediately expressed their protest against the criminal decision of the GROVD and sent an appeal to the prosecutor of the Suzdal region, Smirnov A.A., with a request to find and bring to justice those responsible for beating the head of the Church.

The believers expressed concern for the life and health of other clerics of the Suzdal Diocese of the ROAC, who, in turn, may suffer at the hands of unidentified criminals..."

Sources

• URGENT: Metropolitan Valentin beaten up in Suzdal and ROAC Synodal house robbed // Portal-Credo.ru. 2005. October 14.
• An emergency meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the ROAC took place in Suzdal // Vertograd. 2005. November 5.
• Appeal of the Synod of Bishops, clergy and believers of the persecuted Russian Orthodox Church // There.
• Statement by the clergy and parishioners of St. Tsar-martyr Nicholas II and all the new martyrs of Russia, which is at the Golovinsky cemetery in Moscow // There.
• ROAC parishioners from the Krasnodar Territory sent a letter to the prosecutor's office of Suzdal // There. 2006. February 20.
• Suzdal GROVD Suspends Investigation into Attack on ROAC First Hierarch Metropolitan Valentin // There. March 23. (With reference to the "Suzdal Diocesan Gazette".)