German authorities denied a visa to an archimandrite of the Russian Orthodox Church, calling the Church a "hostile organization"

German authorities have rejected the Schengen visa request of Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky), associate professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, citing a threat to public order and internal security. According to the Rambler portal, the official wording of the consulate described the Russian Orthodox Church as a «hostile organization.»

The clergyman was planning to visit Cologne to participate in the German Orthodox Youth Congress scheduled for June 3-7. The trip was initiated by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, who sent official invitations in German. According to Archimandrite Simeon, all the necessary documents were submitted to the consulate, including tickets and confirmations from the host country, but this did not affect the decision of the FRG authorities.

The archimandrite emphasized that the participation of Russian clerics in such forums is a long-standing tradition, which has now been jeopardized. In his opinion, this incident is a manifestation of open discrimination on religious grounds. The priest also expressed fear that the political pressure on the Church, previously centered on the territory of Ukraine, is now beginning to spread to the EU countries, creating new barriers to religious activity.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the Estonian authorities introduced a ban on entry into the country and the Schengen zone for seven citizens related to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This decision is motivated by national security considerations and accusations of supporting the foreign policy of the Russian Federation.