Number two behind Cyril I.: Hilarion was not allowed to enter
At the end of March, the then number two behind Cyril I was prevented from entering Geneva.
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the essentials in brief
- The second most powerful man in the Russian Orthodox Church was not allowed to enter the country at the end of March.
- The priest was prevented from entering the country at Geneva airport.
- The reason for the war was the blockade by an EU country.
The second most powerful man in the Russian Orthodox Church, Hilarion Alfejew, wanted to enter Switzerland at the end of March 2022. The former Metropolitan of Volokolamsk was scheduled to meet with the Archbishop of Vilnius. But Hilarion was prevented from entering the Confederation at Geneva airport. This was reported by the Catholic Media Center on Friday.
Number two behind Kyrill I. is not on any sanctions list
The Russian citizen was number two in the Russian Orthodox Church behind his compatriot Cyril I. But Hilarion Alfeev was not on the EU sanctions lists: Just like his superior, a similar approach to Hilarion was blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Only Lithuania, Great Britain and Canada have officially imposed sanctions on Cyril I. The patriarch from Moscow is considered one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies. In his sermons, the Russian clergyman repeatedly legitimized aggressive war metaphysically.
Origin of blockage unclear
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) could neither confirm nor deny the blockade of Hilarion’s entry. This is reported by the Catholic Media Center.
However, the EDA referred to the Schengen Agreement. According to the international agreement, a single country can deny a person entry to the entire space. In this case, “all member states are obliged to implement this measure.”
However, it remains unclear which EU country put Hilarion Alfejew on the red list. According to research by the Catholic Media Center, Poland or a Baltic country is by far the most likely.
In the meantime, Hilarion’s entry problems have also disappeared: in June, the clergyman was deposed by Cyril I and appointed head of the diocese of Budapest and Hungary.
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