Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 30 Orthodox priests have faced pressure by religious or state authorities over the war in Ukraine.
Transcript
00:00 Reverend Koval leads one of his first services in Turkey after the Russian Orthodox Church
00:05 decided to defrock him last September following his prayer for peace in Ukraine.
00:11 President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's clergymen to pray for victory in the war,
00:16 but Reverend Koval replaced the word "victory" with "peace".
00:20 "With the word "victory" the prayer has gained a propagandistic meaning.
00:27 I think that by forming the right thinking among the clergymen, it is going against my
00:40 conscience."
00:41 In February, Reverend Kordoshkin was suspended for three months in Madrid for his stance
00:46 against the fighting.
00:47 "I think that we have a duty to speak out whatever the cost, but of course I cannot
00:53 call my brethren who are in Russia to put themselves under threat."
00:59 The Russian Orthodox Church explains the repressions as punishment for their so-called engagement
01:04 in politics.
01:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]