Russian Orthodox Church fires top bishop over poker play

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has removed Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe from his position.

The church announced in a press release that it had opened a formal investigation into Nestor, who oversaw church activities in countries like France, the UK, Spain, and Italy.

His duties have been temporarily given to another bishop, Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan.

The church has not officially said why Nestor was removed, but reports say it may be due to his poker habit.

Nestor has competed in international poker tournaments under his real name, Yevgeny Sirotenko. Photos of him at the tables have been published online, and his total winnings are reported to be over $47,000.

According to Orthodox Church rules, clergy are not allowed to gamble or even go to places where gambling takes place.

These rules are part of ancient church laws, and breaking them could result in Nestor losing his priesthood.

The church is also investigating whether he used church money during his travels.

Criticism of war in Ukraine

Some believe the poker story is just an excuse.

Nestor has spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, something the church in Moscow strongly supports.

In 2022, he released a statement with a Spanish Catholic leader, calling for peace and an end to the war.

He also refused to remove a priest in Madrid who had spoken out against the war, even though Patriarch Kirill had suspended the priest. Nestor later met with a Ukrainian bishop who the Moscow church considers a traitor.

Church journalist Ksenia Luchenko said that Nestor may have been pushed out for political reasons. “He always defended his priests and didn’t follow Moscow’s political line,” she said.

Former deacon Andrei Kuraev agreed. He said the church is using outdated rules as an excuse to remove someone they don’t like.

Source: The Moscow Times

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation