A recent report from the Joint Press Service of the St. Petersburg courts states that Vasily Boyko, accused of conspiring to abduct the ex-husband of a parishioner from the Hierotheus Temple, has been placed under house arrest while the investigation continues.
The preliminary outline suggests that the rector of the Church of Hieromartyr Hierotheus, Bishop Hierotheos of Athens, perceived a risk that the ex-husband might seek to distance himself from church life. He is said to have considered the possibility that information could be spread that would damage Boyko’s reputation and standing within the community. According to the materials reviewed by authorities, the suspect allegedly offered to engage in negotiations with the intended victim if a kidnapping could be arranged, and he reportedly set aside 60 thousand rubles to compensate those who would carry out the act.
On May 12, 2023, Vasily Boyko was detained and questioned. The Vasileostrovsky District Court of St. Petersburg subsequently imposed a restraining order prohibiting him from leaving his residence in the Leningrad Region until July 11, 2023. The order also restricts contact with witnesses and limits internet use as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged plot.
Accounts from the period indicate that the 34-year-old rector of the Church of Hieromartyr Hierotheus, who serves as the Bishop of Athens and is situated along the Obvodny Canal in St. Petersburg, had maintained a close personal relationship with a married parishioner. After the couple’s divorce, concerns arose that the ex-husband could bring disrepute or complications to Boyko’s clerical position. The authorities describe the suspect as having sought the ex-husband’s removal from his life through coercive means, suggesting a deliberate plan tied to the victim’s potential vulnerability.
Sources connected to the investigation note that the case involves a mixture of personal and communal pressures, with the priest reputedly attempting to influence perceptions around his position and future within the parish. The broader context includes the involvement of additional individuals in the alleged scheme, though the specifics remain under judicial review. The information released thus far points to a coordinated effort to arrange and fund actions intended to remove the ex-husband from the picture, employing intermediaries who were identified as participants in the plan.
As the legal process unfolds, investigators are examining the relationships between church leadership, parish life, and the potential impact on community trust. The case highlights the fragile boundary between spiritual duties and personal disputes, raising questions about how matters of faith, honor, and governance intersect in high-stakes situations. The proceedings continue to be documented by official channels, with the court monitoring ongoing communications and the status of witnesses as authorities gather additional evidence to determine the full scope of the alleged conspiracy and the roles of those involved.