“I couldn’t submit to this political pressure from the hierarchy,” Rev. Ioann Koval said.
Russian Orthodox Priests are facing persecution by their church for calling for peace in Ukraine while Moscow’s war rages on.
There may be even more cases, according to Vasilevich, who said some priests are afraid to discuss repercussions for fear of further retaliation. Koval said he lost is priestly rank for swapping one word in the prayer for another — “peace” instead of “victory.” Rev. Ioann Koval was defrocked after swapping the word “victory” for “peace” in a prayer for Ukraine.Praying for peace in Ukraine also comes with legal ramifications, after lawmakers passed legislation following Russia’s Febryary 2022 invasion that allowed prosecuting people for “discrediting the Russian army.” The charge has been leveled against thousands of people and broadly used to punish any speech that contradicts Moscow’s official narrative.
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