Metropolitan Hilarion commented on his resignation and the incident with the police in the Czech Republic

Metropolitan Hilarion, a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church (Alfeyev), in a recent interview with RIA Novosti, spoke in detail for the first time about the reasons for his departure from active church leadership and presented his account of the events surrounding his detention in the Czech Republic. According to Orthodox Times, the hierarch emphasized that the decision to remove him from active ministry was not his own initiative, but he views it as “part of God’s providence.”

In the interview, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that following the revocation of the patriarchal decree regarding his transfer to Brazil, he will continue to serve at the Convent of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross near Moscow. According to him, this will allow him to care for his elderly mother and devote more time to his literary work. The hierarch explained that he is currently working on several books, including works on Dmitri Shostakovich, Michelangelo, and angels.

Special attention was given to the incident in the Czech Republic, where on May 24 the metropolitan was detained on suspicion of drug possession. Hilarion categorically rejected these accusations, calling them a provocation. Citing his attorney, he reported that forensic analysis found no traces of his DNA or fingerprints on the items in question, while traces of the hands of the police officer who conducted the search were found on the packaging. According to the metropolitan, Czech law enforcement authorities have suspended the investigation against him; however, the case has not been definitively closed, which, in his opinion, is linked to a general rise in anti-Russian sentiment in the Czech Republic.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia issued a decree stating that Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), who is retired, would temporarily relocate his residence and ministry from Brazil to the Russian Federation.