"Where is the humility?" Parishioners of a Ryazan village recorded a video message asking not to transfer the priest to another parish.
Parishioners of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the village of Maly Studenets quarreled over Father Alexander (Vedeneev), who is being transferred to another parish. This is the priest's third transfer. Some recorded a video message asking him to remain in the parish, while others criticized the former: this is rebellion, and one should live in humility.
"During our priest's ministry, the parishioners have come to love him with all their hearts and souls. We see how zealously he serves our Lord Jesus Christ, how he cares for our church, <…> the children have become interested in the services. We ask you not to take Father Alexander away from us."- requested they to to the bishop Kasimovsky and Sasovsky Vasily.
The villagers promised to fight for Father Alexander, and in the comments they described his other virtues: "He's actively involved in helping the guys in the North-Eastern Military District. He organized and blessed people to weave camouflage nets."
Not all parishioners liked this initiative. "Where's the humility? We need to respect the decisions of the church's higher authorities. 'We will fight...'... With whom?" «This is the Orthodox propaganda they've done to all the public pages."! Now he won't be patted on the head for your scribblings," "You've found yourself an idol and are starting to worship him! Let's not meddle in other people's business and turn the Lord God against us!" — they called.
The conflict spread beyond the Sasovsky district, some parishioners have asked help from the governor Pavel Malkov.
"The Church and the authorities are separate and disconnected. Unfortunately, we have no authority to make decisions on these matters." — the Sasovsky District administration account responded.
Parishioners are collecting signatures against the transfer of Father Alexander and intend to appeal к to Patriarch Kirill (To Gundyaev).
Father Alexander thanked parishioners and said goodbye with the words: "God bless you all! I bow low to you, dear ones!"
Photo: from Father Alexander's VK page, "My Sasovo" group