The Russian Orthodox Church stripped the well-known theologian Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun) of his title. Such a decision in the case of the banned cleric was made by the diocesan ecclesiastical court.
This was reported by "Pravlife", citing the website of the Moscow Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church on December 12, 2023.
"The diocesan court of Moscow of the Russian Orthodox Church, sitting on 31.10.2023 in the case of the banned cleric of the Moscow Diocese, Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun), decided: 'To acknowledge that based on the rule of the 25th Holy Apostles, Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun) is subject to canonical punishment in the form of defrocking,'" the statement said.
The court's decision will take effect after approval by the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.
On September 25, 2023, the Patriarch of Moscow banned Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun) from serving. The text of the decree of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church states that Cyril (Hovorun) concelebrated with representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and such actions are prohibited in the Russian Orthodox Church.
However, commenting on this event, Archimandrite Cyril stated that the reason for the ban was not at all about concelebration.
"The reason for the suspension is much more recent - the war in Ukraine. In my opinion, this is my criticism of involvement in this Patriarchate. The Moscow Patriarch believes that I belong to him. My public statements against the war have irritated him. He is even more afraid to annoy the Kremlin. He loves to publicly declare that the Russian Church has never been freer than it is now. But his decisions, including regarding me, show the opposite. I believe that the Patriarch is increasingly losing control and authority within the Russian Orthodox Church," said Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun).
Archimandrite Cyril (Hovorun) is renowned worldwide as a theologian and publicist. He is a patrologist (studying the original writings of church founders), a candidate of theology, a doctor of philosophy, a scientific director at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, a professor at the Institute of St. Ignatius in Stockholm, and the director of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute, a professor at the Stockholm School of Theology.
The Archimandrite strongly criticizes Russia's criminal re-entry into Ukraine. He has repeatedly stated that Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church sold the ideology of chauvinism to the Kremlin, so he is not an accomplice to the crime but an ideologist.
Cyril (Hovorun) also stated that the essence of Russia's aggressive and brutal war in Ukraine is anti-Christian. Furthermore, according to the Archimandrite, the Kremlin cannot even explain why it unleashed this war. Not even Putin can explain it to himself. Because this war is irrational.
Archimandrite Cyril reminded Russians that Orthodox Christians, according to the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church," can and should refuse to participate in the annexationist war against Ukraine.