The head of the Valaam Monastery's branch in Sochi, Russia — hegumen Gabriel was relieved of his position. This measure was taken following the controversial statements he made in May. He notably referred to Islam as “incorrect” and used threatening language towards Muslims he had said.
In his sermon, Gabriel described Muslims not as “followers of another religion,” but as “a force equal to an army,” stating that “if a mullah orders, they would massacre people in Moscow, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs would not be able to respond in time,” he opined.
Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the "Akhmat" special unit and known for his closeness to Ramzan Kadyrov, sharply criticized these words. He called the clergyman a “representative of the soldiers of the Antichrist,” stating, “There are 30 million local Muslims living in Russia. Who are you to declare our religion as incorrect?” he expressed his disapproval.
The press service of the Valaam Monastery announced the “hegumen”'s removal from his position but did not disclose the reasons for this decision.
We remind you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited this monastery several times. In July 2024, the presidents of Belarus and Russia held closed negotiations there.
