Church court in Jewish Autonomous District defrocked a priest who corrupted more than 50 boys

"The Diocesan ecclesiastical court, guided by a set of canonical rules, taking into account the recognition by the hieromonk Spiridon (Abramov), who was prohibited from serving in the ministry, of his guilt in committing lecherous acts against minors, violating his monastic vows and priestly oath, decided to admit that his sinful acts fall within particular, subject to canonical rules. <…> On this basis, the hieromonk, who is prohibited from serving, is recognized as subject to eruption from the priesthood", - says the website of the diocese.

On November 8, the court handed down convictions in the case of child molestation to two residents of the Jewish Autonomous Region, according to which they will serve their sentences in a strict regime colony for 18 and 12 years. One of the defendants was sentenced on 51 episodes of crimes, the other - on five. The defendants admitted their guilt in part.