Vsevolod Chaplin was fired

Today, December 24, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at a meeting in Moscow was released by the Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin from the post of head of the Synodal Department for the relationship between the Church and the Society of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP).

It is reported by Interfax with reference to a source in the Synod. Chaplin himself refused to comment on information about his resignation.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin held the post of head of the Synodal Department for the relationship between the Church and the MP company since March 2009. The department was formed at the same time by the decision of the Holy Synod to communicate with the legislative authorities, political parties, professional and creative unions, and other institutions of civil society in the canonical territory of the MP.

Chaplin repeatedly made resonance statements on socially significant topics.

In particular, the head of the synodal department of the relationship between the Church and society spoke out for the creation of “Orthodox people's squads”, against euthanasia and anonymity on the Internet, offered to come up with the “all-Russian dress code”, advocated the legislative prohibition of the propaganda of pedophilia and homosexuality, including the ban on the novel by Lolit, and recently called the military recently called military Russia's operation in Syria partly of the “sacred struggle” against world terrorism.

PS Synodal Information Department of the Russian Orthodox Church confirmed the dismissal of Vsevolod Chaplin, and also said that the Synodal Department for the relationship of the Church with society and the media was created by the decision of the Holy Synod - it was formed by the merger of the Synodal Information Department and the Department for the Relations of the Church and Society.

The chairman of the Synodal Department for the relationship between the Church with society and the media was appointed the head of the information department, Vladimir Legoyd, a representative of the church in the inter -religious council of Russia - Metropolitan Ilarion of Metropolitan.

PPS Vsevolod Chaplin explained his dismissal with the disagreements that he had with Patriarch Kirill. “We seriously parted with his Holiness in the understanding of what the role of the Church in the state and society should be. - Chaplin commented on the Russian News Service . “I believe that we must be independent, we must critically conduct a dialogue with the authorities, do not assent her, argue with her, argue with society, even if someone does not agree that believing people say.”

At the same time, the ex-head of the Synodal Department for the relationship between the Church and Society emphasized that he further intends to publicly express his position.