The priests of the Russian Orthodox Church wrote an open letter in support of the defendants in the Moscow Affairs. Updated

More than 35 priests of the Russian Orthodox Church were defended by the defendants in Moscow Affairs. An open letter of the clergy is published on the website of the publication “Orthodoxy and the world”.

From an open letter:

“We turn to people, clothed with judicial power and serving in the power structures of our country. Many of you are baptized in the Orthodox Church and consider themselves believing people. Bailiffs should not be repressive in nature, the courts cannot be used as a means of suppressing disagreements, the use of force should not be carried out with unjustified cruelty. We express our concern that the sentences issued are more similar to intimidating Russian citizens than a fair decision in relation to the defendants. ”

The letter was signed by priests from Moscow , Minsk, Nizhny Novgorod and other cities. Three - from St. Petersburg: the abbot of the temple of the icon of the Mother of God “satisfied my sorrows” George Ioffe, rector of the temple of St. VMC. Anastasia Patriotican, Archpriest Alexander Stepanov, and teacher of St. Petersburg State University, Hieromonk Hieromonk Ilarion (Reznichenko).

The “Moscow business” is called the case of riots after a disagreed protest on July 27. In support of one of the convicts, actor Pavel Ustinov, launched a flash mob. Dozens of actors and theaters joined him.

Update from 18.09

The deputy head of the department of the church relations with society and the media, Vakhtang Kipshidze called the priests of the priests “political declaration”, writes Interfax. According to him, this appeal is based on the political agenda of secular and Orthodox media, adhering to the "famous preferences" and having "little in common with legal protection."

“Political declarations can only try to fight the authorities, and not transform the world on the principles of the truth of Christ, but the fact is that the struggle with the authorities has never been and will not be a mission of the Church,” Kipshidze said. He added that he considers it a light and “useless way” to sign letters “in which political rhetoric and sacred texts are strangely mixed.”

Photo on the cover: Alvesgaspar