Source: Peter Anderson, Seattle USA
The Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate held its summer meeting on July 25, 2024. Journey Entry 78 of the minutes of the meeting announced an important decision relating to Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary. http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/6146121.html A Google translation of the complete text of the entry is as follows:
HAD A JUDGMENT on the state of affairs in the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese.
RESOLVED:
- To form a Commission to study the situation in the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese.
- For the duration of the work of said Commission, temporarily remove Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary from the administration of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese.
- The temporary administration of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese shall be entrusted to the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe.
- To relieve Metropolitan Hilarion of his posts as Chairman of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission and as Chairman of the Inter-Council Presence Commission on Theology and Theological Education and to appoint His Grace Bishop Methodius of Yegoryevsk as acting chairman of both commissions, including him in the Inter-Council Presence.
As can be seen, Metropolitan Hilarion is “temporarily” removed from the administration of the Budapest diocese pending completion of the work of a commission that will study the situation in the diocese. Paragraph 4 provides that Metropolitan Hilarion is relieved of his posts as Chairman of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission and as Chairman of the Inter-Council Presence Commission on Theology and Theological Education. The first position is a very important one. However, in paragraph 4, the word “temporarily” is not used. The “acting chairman” of both commissions will be Bishop Methodius of Yegoryevsk. In my opinion, the latter is a surprising choice. His biography is found at http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/6108984.html. He has only been a bishop for nine days.
Although the decision gives no information on the “situation in the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese,” it is assumed by most that it relates to allegations made against Metropolitan Hilarion by Georgy Suzuki, a 21-year-old subdeacon who is from Japan and who lived with Metropolitan Hilarion as a “cell-mate.” On July 4, Novaya Gazeta Europe posted a long investigative article based on certain allegations made by Suzuki. As you may recall, Novaya Gazeta was a Moscow newspaper known for its independence. Its editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. After the invasion of Ukraine, the newspaper received several warnings from the Russian government concerning its coverage of Ukraine. As a result, the newspaper suspended its Moscow operations and began a publication Novaya Gazeta Europe, headquartered in Riga. The publication has since been blocked in Russia and designated an “undesirable organization.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novaya_Gazeta
The newspaper’s full report on Metropolitan Hilarion can be read at https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/07/05/trudy-i-dni-mitropolita-ilariona. The claims made by Suzuki include Suzuki being required to sleep in the same bed as Hilarion and skin-to-skin contacts (but not sex acts) between the two. Suzuki also attacked the Metropolitan’s alleged high style of living. Suzuki provided the newspaper with voice recordings and photos that Suzuki had secretly taken. The newspaper acknowledged that Suzuki “took an expensive watch and money totaling 30 thousand euros from Hilarion’s house” when Suzuki returned to Japan. Metropolitan Hilarion filed criminal charges for theft against Suzuki after this occurred. Following the decision today by the Holy Synod, Novaya Gazeta Europe has posted another article. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/07/25/russian-orthodox-turmoil-en The latest article is entitled “Russian Orthodox turmoil — Allegations of sexual harassment against a once high-flying bishop have rocked Russia’s religious establishment to the core.” Today’s article retells the allegations against Metropolitan Hilarion. It also stresses Metropolitan Hilarion’s strict views concerning sexual morality and homosexuality. The article ends with a statement by Inga Leonova, the editor-in-chief of The Wheel (an Orthodox journal in the USA) that sexual misconduct within the Russian Orthodox Church is widespread and that “the situation is probably even more dire than it was in the Catholic Church before the Spotlight investigation, because everybody talks, nobody investigates, nobody ever goes on record, and no one ever comes forward with accusations because there is nowhere to go.” It appears that the newspaper is attempting to make the story much bigger than the Hilarion matter.
Metropolitan Hilarion has launched his own counterattack against the story posted on July 4. This is reflected in his statement made to RIA Novosti on July 9. https://ria.ru/20240709/mitropolit-1958444464.html Archpriest Nikolai Kim, press secretary of the Budapest diocese, supported Metropolitan Hilarion in an interview by TASS. https://tass.ru/obschestvo/21316241 The clergy of the Budapest diocese has posted a statement supportive of Metropolitan Hilarion. https://magyarortodox.com/2024/07/10/a-magyar-egyhazmegye-papsaganak-nyilt-levele-hilarion-budapesti-es-magyarorszagi-metropolia-vedelmeben/ One of the Metropolitan’s contentions is that he is being blackmailed. Archpriest Nikolai Kim stated in his interview that Suzuki’s mother tried to sell the Metropolitan these (secret) recordings for €384,000 and demanded that the money be transferred to her account. Metropolitan Hilarion has denied many of the allegations made by Suzuki.
The decision made by the Holy Synod to suspend Metropolitan Hilarion pending investigation is similar to the practice of the Catholic Church when a bishop or a priest is accused. During my years as a practicing attorney, I handled a considerable number of sexual harassment cases. These can be difficult cases with two persons giving very conflicting testimony as to what happened when the two of them were alone. When I followed the news concerning the trial of Cardinal Pell in Australia, my prayer was – may the truth prevail. I have the same prayer in this case.
In Ukraine, consideration by the Rada of controversial Draft Law 8371 has been delayed at least until August 20. On July 23, the proponents of Draft Law 8371 occupied the rostrum of the Rada after they had heard that Draft Law 8371 was not on the latest agenda to be considered and voted on by the full Rada. The agenda is determined by the Rada’s Conciliation Council of Parliamentary Factions and Groups. After the interruption caused by the occupation of the rostrum, the Conciliation Council met and decided to establish a “working group” to resolve disputes relating to the Draft Law. Another plenary session of the Rada will not be held (except for military matters) until the latter part of August. This is described in an interview of Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairperson of the Rada. https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2024/07/23/7467064/ Also with respect to Draft Law 8371, “Renovabis” (the Eastern European Aid Organization of the Catholic Church in Germany) has issued a strong statement against Draft Law 8371. https://www.renovabis.de/pressemeldungen/ukraine-verbot-der-ukrainisch-orthodoxen-kirche-zeichnet-sich-ab
The following announcement has been made by the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Exarchate in Lithuania: “On 23 July 2024, in accordance with his request, protodeacon Andrei Kuraev was admitted to the clergy of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Lithuania….Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev will continue his ministry in the Church as a missionary—not bound by ministry in one parish, but will continue to preach the gospel in different cities and countries in accordance with the rules of the Church.” https://www.ortodoksas.lt/2024/07/naujas-dvasininkas-egzarchate.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR13xROlPI6Gu9dhEeY3JTgN0bGJDYo8FEVTKt_WfTfz1m8i4pNH04CLjYs_aem_QjzJ3J_8G6Kk990ambokPA As you recall, Kuraev was defrocked by the Moscow Patriarchate, but then reinstated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Lastly, the U.S. Helsinki Commission has posted on July 24 a video of a hearing on “Russia’s Persecution of Ukrainian Christians.” It can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHWvita1mrw.
Peter Anderson, Seattle USA