Orthodox Priest Killed in Moscow Region
Moscow, December 23, Interfax - Archpriest Alexander Filippov, who served at the Ascension Church in the village of Satino-Russkoye in the Podolsk District outside Moscow, has died after being shot in the heart on Tuesday evening, the priest's widow Yelena told Interfax-Religion.
"Father Alexander was killed only because he reproached those people who were urinating in an apartment building's entrance hall," she said.
Father Alexander was 39 years old. He had three teenage daughters.
According to the Moscow Patriarchate, the priest's murderer has already been detained.
It was the second murder of an Orthodox priest in the Moscow area in the past month. Priest Daniil Sysoyev from Moscow's Saint Thomas Church, who was known for his criticism of nationalist groups, was killed on November 19.
A total of 26 Orthodox priests have been murdered in Russia since 1990.
Priest Killed By Drunk Hooligans in Moscow Region Struggled Against Alcoholism
Moscow, December 23, Interfax – Icons healing from alcohol and drug addiction are kept in the Ascension Church in the Moscow Region Satino-Russkoye village, where Archpriest Alexander Phillipov killed last evening was a rector.
Fr. Alexander conducted a prayer service before the Akhtyrskaya Icon of the Mother of God and St. Bonifatius every Saturday and prayed for healing from alcoholism, smoking and other passions, the Moscow Diocese told Interfax.
As was reported, Archpriest Alexander Phillipov, Rector of the Ascension Church in Satino-Russkoye was killed in Tuesday evening.
“Fr. Alexander was killed only because he reproved monsters who relieved themselves in the doorway,” the priest’s widow Yelena told Interfax-Religion.
Fr. Alexander was 39 years old and had three teen daughters.