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A respectable Lord for respectable gentlemen

How businessmen and officials use the Russian Orthodox Church as a patron and lobbying organization – using the example of the Samara region

Shortly before the New Year, on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Metropolitan Feodosiy of Samara and Novokuibyshevsk celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church built by the Drevo corporation between 2016 and 2020. The Metropolitan is dressed as never before: in new, expensive vestments and a new, richly decorated headdress—a mitre embellished with pearls and gemstones. 

Both are gifts intended to earn the bishop's loyalty, several sources in the church told NeMoskva. After all, the church, they note, can be not only a structure for pastoral support for citizens, but also, in the parlance of the 90s, an "influential protection racket." 

Metropolitan Feodosiy currently enjoys a reputation as a spiritual, rather than a "businesslike," man. But the example of his predecessor, Sergiy, clearly demonstrates that the church has other options beyond prayer and sacraments. To better understand the nature of its interactions with the government and business, NeMoskva spoke with rectors and priests of churches within the metropolitanate, several regional officials and businessmen, and a local political strategist. 

All of our interviewees requested anonymity because the individuals mentioned in this article are influential and potentially dangerous. 

Changing of the Guard

Sergiy headed the diocese for almost 30 years, since 1996. First as an archbishop, and then as a metropolitan since 2024. During this time, he built strong ties with Samara's business community and government. 

"Sergiy could put in a good word not only with God. Ever since the perestroika era, he had good connections among both the security forces and government officials. He could call the prosecutor's office or even a high-ranking organization. And not just at the regional level. Therefore, a good relationship with the metropolitan has always been important for both businessmen and governors," a former Samara official, who worked in the governor's administration from the 90s until 2015 and retained ties to it, told NeMoskva. 

Sergiy, he says, was friends with all of Samara's mayors and governors of recent decades. Among his close acquaintances were major local businessmen: Vladimir Avetisyan, owner of the Volgapromgaz Group; Alexey Ushamirsky, beneficiary of the VID Group; the family of Nikolay Chudayev, owner of the Drevo construction holding; and the family of Viktor Surkov, owner of the region's largest shopping malls.

For many years, Sergey has lived in a cottage with a swimming pool on 9th Prosek in Samara, near the Chkalov Sanatorium—one of the city's most prestigious neighborhoods (the editors have the address). Neighbors speak with some envy of his fleet of cars, where a Maybach is allegedly far from the most expensive. 

In July 2025, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church He has made a decision on the enumeration of the metropolitan to retire i (removal of the bishop from active management of the diocese and his actual resignation) . 

No official reason for the resignation was given. However, among several church-going businessmen NeMoskva spoke with, there is a belief that Sergiy's position became precarious due to a conflict with the governor of the Samara region, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, who took office in September 2024. Allegedly, the regional governor attended a service led by the metropolitan and afterwards wanted to discuss "certain matters" with him. The metropolitan, through his aides, suggested that Fedorishchev wait for him in the cathedral refectory. The regional governor insisted on an urgent meeting, but Sergiy ignored him. He likely wanted to demonstrate that governors come and go, but he remains a constant.

A couple of weeks later, in Fedorishchev's Telegram channel photo appeared with Patriarch Kirill. And at the end of the month— Sergiy's dismissal notice and the appointment of a new leader of the Samara Orthodox. According to NeMoskva sources, Fedorishchev was able to influence the matter because he enjoys the patronage of his former boss, now State Council Secretary Alexei Dyumin.

However, even after his retirement, the previous metropolitan is not in poverty: in addition to his state pension, he receives a stipend from the Samara Diocese. The Diocese also provides additional compensation for the assistant's work. around the house i (The new Metropolitan Feodosiy announced this at one of the closed events in the diocese, which was reported to NeMoskva by two sources present at the event) . Moreover, Sergius did not go to the Ryazan region to a rural monastery, as prescribed synodal decree i (the decree states: “to determine the place of residence for His Grace Metropolitan Sergius in retirement in the Ryazan region, where he owns housing, with the receipt of maintenance from the Samara diocesan administration”) , but remained in Samara and today serves as rector of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord next to the Botanical Garden - a scandalous construction project on a prestigious and profitable location i (The Samara Diocese began construction here in 2019, officially positioning the facility as a diocesan children's educational center with free extracurricular activities. However, as construction progressed, the building increasingly resembled a church. In June 2023, a dome and cross were placed on it, and it was announced that it would house a church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord. Residents of the area opposed the project: many were buying apartments with views of the Samara University Botanical Garden—a natural monument of regional significance, one of the largest in Russia—rather than the church. In 2021, a court suspended construction due to a lack of permits. At public hearings, the majority of residents spoke out against the project. But in January 2022, the Samara administration approved the facility's placement. Construction and finishing work are nearly complete.) . 

Long-standing traditions 

Interaction between government, business, and the church has a long tradition in the Samara region—as, likely, in other regions of Russia. 

In 2001, PolitSamara reported, local authorities allocated 3,6 million rubles to the church for the construction of new churches (around 30 million in today's money). This violated the federal law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations." allows financing from the budget only restoration and only those religious objects that are historical and cultural monuments. 

In 2009 year material "How much does it cost to churchify the Samara authorities?" Well-known local journalist Vladimir Klimenko once again reported that funds from the deficit budget are being allocated for church construction. 

"Participation in the construction of churches isn't simply a matter of heartfelt desire or an attempt to 'atone for sins.' It's a way to secure the support of the Russian Orthodox Church as a lobbying organization. The larger the 'donation,' the more pearls and stones on the vestments, the larger the church, the higher the level of support one can expect. That's how the vertical works. For some, it's genuine faith, for others, it's a respectable God for respectable gentlemen," a Samara political strategist commented in a conversation with NeMoskva. 

Here are other examples where mutually beneficial cooperation has likely borne fruit. 

Georgy Limansky, former mayor of Samara. When he lost the election and for a while was placed on the federal wanted list In a case involving illegal land and municipal property transactions, the lawyers cited various Russian Orthodox Church awards received for supporting the construction of a church dedicated to St. George the Victorious in front of the government building as an argument for their integrity. According to the former official mentioned at the beginning of the article, even the Moscow Patriarchate interceded on Limansky's behalf with investigators. In April 2010, the criminal prosecution of the former mayor was suspended. was terminated "due to the absence of criminal elements in his actions," which coincided with his decision not to participate in the elections.

Vladimir Avetisyan, a Samara oligarch and owner of the Volgapromgaz group, is highly influential at the regional level, as is former governor Dmitry Azarov. counts his protégé. NeMoskva's sources in the Samara diocese claim that he was a frequent guest of Sergius, not only in his office, but also in his cottage on 9th Prosek. Saint Sophia Cathedral, opened in Samara in September 2018, was built as the media wrote, with Avetisyan's support. The oligarch's relationship with the current governor, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, has soured, and his business is feeling the pressure. Gazprom and Rosseti are clearly interested in Volgapromgaz's assets. But for now, Avetisyan is holding his own, speaking about patriotism in the Samarskoye Obozreniye newspaper, owned by his media holding.

Alexey Chiginev, CEO of Volgospetsstroy CJSC. From 2007 to 2014, the company built the Kirov Bridge in Samara, while simultaneously funding flights to fetch the Holy Fire on Easter for Governor Vladimir Artyakov, officials, and members of parliament (this was reported by several media outlets, whose electronic archives have not survived; one of our sources also confirmed the information). The practice of sponsoring such flights by "well-connected businessmen" continued under subsequent governors. 

As a source in government circles explains to NeMoskva, the working scheme is as follows: a company receives a government contract, and as a bonus, it is obligated to contribute to church charity work: for example, to ensure the delivery of the Holy Fire, the trips of delegations to monasteries, and the funding of Christmas and Easter concerts.

The Surkov family, an entrepreneurial family, owns Samara's largest shopping and entertainment centers: Ambar, Kosmoport, MegaCity, GudOk, and LetOUT (formerly Moskovsky), and is involved in residential development near the shopping and entertainment centers. They were active church patrons, which likely provided them with a certain amount of protection. When mass events in Samara were canceled ahead of the president's visit, Olga Surkova, editor-in-chief of the glossy magazine GLamur and founder of the Volga charitable foundation, spoke out sharply regarding the fact that the authorities did not agree to hold the procession.

"For another activist, this could have been costly, but it didn't affect the Surkovs," a source told NeMoskva.

^{Olga Surkova, Orthodox haute couture. Photo from Surkova's Telegram channel.}

Alexander Mileev, deputy of the Samara Regional Duma. Journalists called He is known as the "garbage king" and "vodka king," although he denies any involvement with the Rodnik distillery and the former regional operator EcoStroyResurs. Both sectors have a reputation for being highly risky for independent businesses: unpredictable costs, high levels of regulatory pressure, and a heightened risk of administrative and legal conflicts.

Mileev received an award from the Russian Orthodox Church – the Medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree. (i) (a church-wide award of the Russian Orthodox Church, established in December 1978; government and public figures are awarded it “for fruitful work”) — and “in a certain sense it served as a safe conduct from pressure from the security forces,” one of our interlocutors believes. 

"Connections with the church are both reputational capital and real protection. Especially if you have contacts not only with the local diocese but also with Moscow," the speaker comments. 

Nikita Korezhin, personal secretary of Metropolitan Sergius, now Feodosiy. His relatives were allegedly suspected of embezzlement during the purchase of medical equipment, and a criminal case was even opened (this information was not leaked to the media, but several of our sources mentioned it). However, as a NeMoskva source in the Samara Metropolitanate notes, "somehow everyone got away with it": no one was held accountable, and Korezhin continued to work in the diocese. He is the rector of several churches, which provides the Metropolitan's secretary with several rector's salaries—a legal scheme for the privileged few. 

Gifts to the new ruler

Judging by the expensive vestments worn at the Divine Liturgy, Samara businessmen and church officials are actively testing the waters, eager to establish contact with the new metropolitan. This refers to the Mokhov family of priests and their extensive circle—according to our sources, they presented Feodosiy with the expensive episcopal vestments—and the Chudayev family, who own the Drevo construction holding and presented the miter. 

The exact price of the gifts is unknown. But more modest accessories are available. websites of special workshops cost more than 200 thousand rubles, depending on the number of pearls, stones and gold threads.

^{Vestment of Metropolitan Theodosius at the beginning of the December Divine Liturgy and during the second half of the service. Photo: Official Telegram channel of the Samara Metropolitanate of the Russian Orthodox Church.}

Archpriest John Mokhov is a key figure in the Samara clergy. "A man of particular influence," as a retired priest interviewed by NeMoskva put it. According to his testimony, corroborated by other speakers, he was the confessor to several high-ranking officials and prominent businessmen in the region. In particular, Samara Mayor Viktor Tarkhov, whose life ended tragically: he lost the election, and last year, he was killed and was actually put through a meat grinder by his own granddaughter. 

- Mokhov is the only one from white the clergy i (in the Orthodox tradition - parish clergy who do not take monastic vows) received a miter in the Samara diocese from Sergius i (A mitre is a liturgical headdress worn by bishops; in the Russian Orthodox tradition, it can also be bestowed as an award for service as a sign of trust and recognition of merit) "And at a very young age, around 40. Rumor has it that substantial gifts were made for this, as the Russian Orthodox Church typically awards such awards closer to 50 years of service," the source said. 

Mokhov, like Sergiy, lives on 9th Prosek, our sources claim. They attribute his special status to the presence of a certain relative, allegedly serving "close to Patriarch Kirill" (no one dared to name him, however). But perhaps he simply chose an effective tactic.

"There was a meeting [with Governor Fedorishchev] in December. Mokhov is intimate with both the region's top officials and Feodosia. It's his thing—gaining trust," said one of the former priests. 

Ioann Mokhov is also friends with Vitaly Zaitsev, who, as wrote The media and bloggers were the main figurehead of the family of the former Samara governor Dmitry Azarov and the main administrator on his behalf. According to According to open sources, Zaitsev controlled numerous assets in the region through front men and was one of the key figures corruption schemes under the Azarov government.

Father John is the rector of the St. Spyridon Church in Samara. There are plans to build an Orthodox sports school on its grounds, funded by the state (the editorial staff has obtained a document confirming this). The school is also expected to receive state funding. Mokhov began pushing for this project to be implemented back under Azarov. 

"For the rector, this is an opportunity not only to acquire a beautiful building but also to make a good profit. And quite legally—through commissions on transactions, consulting services, and 'gratitude' from contractors," a NeMoskva source in the diocese explains the rector's possible interest.

When a church or an educational institution attached to a church is built, a lot of money goes into it. Some comes from the budget, some from donors. Accounting isn't always transparent, estimates can change, and contractors are chosen without a competitive bidding process, based on connections. 

Our interviewee mentions one of the audits of the diocesan administration's budget expenditures conducted by the Accounts Chamber. It concluded that construction was largely carried out without approved cost estimates, and payments to the contractor were made at contract prices and without proper documentation. 

Another influential figure was Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim Mokhov, the father of John Mokhov. He headed the Tashla Monastery, where budget funding was directed for the development of tourism infrastructure (the editorial staff has a copy of the document). In November 2025, the Accounts Chamber began an audit of how various ministries in the Samara Region spent budget funds, and Seraphim Mokhov resigned, citing illness. 

The second donor is the Chudayev family, which owns the company "Drevo" (one of the largest developers in the Samara region). The founder's son, Alexey Chudayev, served as Minister of Construction under Azarov. 

New era?

Feodosiy is still cautious. Our priestly contacts say he doesn't seem to be letting anyone "get closer to him than is proper." Sergiy spent nearly 30 years building his connections, while the new metropolitan is just beginning to understand the local context, adjusting the administrative structure and establishing administrative order: he re-registered diocesan subdivisions and is paying special attention to the work of diocesan departments. 

"As a leader, I have a staff; it's a sign of authority. But the stick, of course, isn't just for leaning on; it's sometimes used for educational purposes. But I try not to use it too much," the new metropolitan said figuratively. says about my leadership style.

It's unclear how receptive Feodosiy will be to the schemes that operated under his predecessor. He is known as a spiritual man, not particularly interested in worldly goods. In particular, he abolished the mandatory donations to the metropolitan from parishes. Our interlocutors say he leads a modest lifestyle by the standards of the Russian Orthodox Church. 

However, nothing ventured. Sources among Samara's clergy are convinced that a major developer and an influential priesthood are attempting to establish contact with the new head of Samara's Orthodox clergy through expensive gifts. 

"It works much the same way as in secular life. An expensive gift is a way to show respect and start a dialogue. Only instead of a watch or a painting, it's a vestment and a mitre," explains one of the priests. "For the bishop, it's a sign that they respect you and are ready to support you. And for the giver, it's an opportunity to be heard at the right moment."