Moscow unexpectedly replaced the head of Russian Orthodoxy in Hungary, Metropolitan Hilarion
Hungarian media says Metropolitan Hilarion lived a luxurious life in Hungary as the head of the Russian Orthodoxy in Hungary. #metropolitanhilarion #hilarion #russia #orthodoxchurch #russianorthodoxchurch
Based on Hungarian media reports, Metropolitan Hilarion lived a luxurious life in Hungary as the head of the Russian Orthodoxy here and a former second-in-command of the Russian Orthodox Church. He owned a EUR 2.15 million villa, a seashore villa in France, an expensive wine collection, etc. Moscow removed him from Hungary following a sexual abuse scandal.
Metropolitan Hilarion sent to Czechia
As we covered in THIS article, a former subordinate of Metropolitan Hilarion, Georgy Suzuki, reported the head of the Russian Orthodoxy in Hungary to the police for sexual abuse. He said the metropolitan convinced him to move to his EUR 2.15 million Vácduka mansion. There, he had to share the same room and bed with his superior.
Mr Suzuki said they were not involved in sexual intercourse, but sometimes he had to lie on the bed naked with the church leader. Since the circumstances were unbearable, he fled home to his family in Japan. However, first, Mr Suzuki robbed the Orthodox Diocese building in Budapest. He took EUR 30,000 and church valuables in January.
Hilarion (Grigory Valerievich Alfeyev) said that the young man was incited by his mother to try to blackmail him, that the accusations were unfounded, and that he would sue him.
The news about the metropolitan’s luxury life and alleged sexual misconduct broke in July, but seemingly nothing happened afterwards.
Moscow replaces church leader
Yesterday, Telex wrote that Moscow replaced Hilarion and sent him to Karlovy Vary in Czechia to serve in the Orthodox Church of Saint Peter and Paul. Meanwhile, a new leader will come to Hungary. It seems that the decision was so sudden that there was not enough time to name and send the new Orthodox church leader to Hungary.
Hilarion was second-in-command of the Russian Orthodox Church when he was sent away following a similar sudden decision to become the new head of the Hungarian Russian Orthodox Church. Nobody ever explained why he could not continue his work as the right hand of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
Hungarian press discovered in July that Hilarion received Hungarian citizenship and passport three months after his arrival, but the Hungarian government refused to share its reasons referring to national security interests.
Telex wrote that the Russian Orthodox Church began an investigation against Metropolitan Hilarion and suspended him in July. As an explanation, they said that evidence of financial and personal misconduct was found. The church leadership deprived him of all positions then.
Hilarion met with PM Orbán at least once
Hilarion was an important mediator between the Western and Russian Orthodox Churches and had connections to Hungarian politicians too, which is evidenced by the fact that in 2019, he was awarded the Central Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit by Deputy PM Zsolt Semjén, and in 2023, he met Pope Francis during his visit to Hungary. Moreover, based on media reports, Hungarian public persons and Russian oligarchs visited him in his villa.
He met Viktor Orbán at least once, in 2019, but there were probably more occasions of encounter. According to an audio recording given to Novaya Gazeta by Mr Suzuki, Hilarion said he needed to keep an expensive collection of wines to give as a gift to people like PM Orbán when they meet.
Read also:
- 18+: Hilarion, head of Russian Orthodoxy in Hungary, accused of sexual misconduct – read more HERE
- End of Orbán-Putin partnership? Russian President can start peace talks in Slovakia, not in Hungary – read more in THIS article
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
