In St. Petersburg, authorities detained a priest amid allegations that he was attempting to orchestrate the kidnapping of a parishioner’s ex-husband. The arrest was reported through the Mash Telegram channel, which claimed the events unfolded near the Moika district and involved a church connected to the city’s religious community.
According to the report, the 34-year-old rector of the Church of Athens Bishop Hieromartyr Hierotheus, situated along the Obvodny Canal, had developed a close relationship with a married parishioner. After the couple’s separation, the priest allegedly worried that the ex-husband might tarnish the priest’s reputation or complicate his standing within the church. Early information suggests that the man sought to secure the ex-husband’s removal by force and used the parishioner’s connection to stage a violent abduction, adding a layer of fear and coercion to the unfolding case.
The investigation is described as involving the paranormal elements of trust, leverage, and a dangerous belief that money could buy safety or silence. The priests and officers allegedly navigated a troubling terrain, with the priest reportedly coordinating the plan and the alleged conspirators acting as intermediaries. When questioned, the individuals who were involved in the scheme admitted their role in the plot, and payments were reportedly made as part of the attempt to carry out the kidnapping. The rector now faces arrest on charges tied to organizing an abduction through a group that had previously conspired, highlighting the seriousness of alleged manipulation within close religious circles.
In related coverage, the Baza Telegram channel indicated that the priest had pledged to pay 60,000 rubles for the kidnapping and beating of the man, underscoring the commercial dimension some cases can assume in the shadowy exchanges surrounding family disputes. The case echoes earlier legal actions in Moscow, where a resident named Boris Gülin received a prison sentence for organizing the abduction of two relatives for ransom, illustrating a pattern of criminal activity that crosses regions and involves individuals connected to public life and everyday communities. The evolving story raises questions about accountability, the boundaries of spiritual authority, and the safeguards needed to protect parishioners from exploitation within religious institutions.