Only Anglican church in Moscow, Russia, suspends services after dispute over priest’s work status

The only Anglican church in Moscow, St Andrew’s Church of England, has temporarily suspended its services, according to a statement from the church’s press service. The church said it had no one else who could lead services under Russian law.

The church’s account begins in August 2025, when it did not invite the priest Arun John to obtain a three-month humanitarian visa. The church said he had agreed to obtain a work permit and sign a Russian labour contract with the Church of England in Moscow, but when he arrived in Moscow in December 2024 he refused to do so and began a campaign to destabilise and create chaos within the community. These statements are the church’s own claims and have not been independently verified.

The church also says Arun John has no right to work in the Russian Federation and has worsened the conflict within the congregation. It states that Bishop Robert Innes of the European Diocese refused to help the parishioners, that more people opposed to traditional Christian values had joined, and that many long-standing parishioners had left the church.

In a post on its Telegram channel, the church said the bishop had ignored appeals from people who complained that the priest had intimidated them, that he was a misogynist, and that during communion he dropped consecrated bread on the floor and spilled consecrated wine. The complaints also alleged that he humiliated people who were offended and compared them to idolaters. These are reported complaints as relayed by the church, not findings of any investigation. Accounts of such disputes need to be tested for truth and fairness (Proverbs 18:17).

According to the press service, there will be no services at the church on Voznesensky Lane for the next few weeks. The service said the church was complying with Russian law and did not intend to close after 30 years of work.

The English community in Moscow has existed since 1553, and the church on Voznesensky Lane was built in 1884. After a difficult Soviet period, the church resumed worship in 1991.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Russian)