Moscow, 20 November (ENI)--A Russian Orthodox priest who was known for seeking to convert Muslims has been killed by a masked gunman at his church in Moscow.
The official Web site of the Moscow Patriarchate said that the Rev. Daniil Sysoyev, 35, a father of three, died shortly after being shot in the head and chest by an unidentified assailant who entered his parish church of St. Thomas in southern Moscow late on 19 November.
Anatoly Bagmet, an official of the Moscow Prosecutor's Office, told news agencies that religion was being investigated as the primary motive.
In a statement posted on the Moscow Patriarchate‚s Web site,
www.patriarchia.ru, Patriarch Kirill I said any murder is a grave sin,
and killing a priest in his church is "a provocation against God's law,
an affront to the holy places the Lord himself has given us". Patriarch
Kirill did not mention directly Sysoyev's work among Muslims, and
warned against jumping to rash conclusions.
"For now the names of the criminals are not known, and I ask all to refrain from any hasty accusations or sharp judgments against particular persons or groups," Kirill said. He called on clergy and laity "not to forget that we are called by God to preserve peace among ourselves".
Russian religious leaders and political officials, including President Dmitry Medvedev, have spoken in recent months of Russia's unique religious harmony.
A Moscow Patriarchate official who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Ecumenical News International that the murder could be connected to Sysoyev's missionary work among Muslims. "He led to Christianity people, whether Tatars or other ethnic groups, that were overwhelmingly Muslim," the official said.
Sysoyev gave lectures critical of Islam, debated directly with Muslim leaders, and wrote books on subjects such as the dangers of Christian women marrying Muslim men.
He also worked among people from other religions, and he had conflicts with pagans, the Interfax news agency reported. Sysoyev spoke out against nationalists who preach Stalin instead of Christ in one of the last postings on his blog, pr-daniil.livejournal.com.
Kirill Frolov, an Orthodox missionary activist who was close to the slain priest told Interfax that Sysoyev had received threats over the past two or three years calling on him "stop his theological polemics with Islam" or otherwise "he will be dealt with like an infidel".
Muslim officials had expressed anger with Sysoyev in the past, but on 20 November they expressed anger and sympathy about his death. [reprinted with permission]
"For now the names of the criminals are not known, and I ask all to refrain from any hasty accusations or sharp judgments against particular persons or groups," Kirill said. He called on clergy and laity "not to forget that we are called by God to preserve peace among ourselves".
Russian religious leaders and political officials, including President Dmitry Medvedev, have spoken in recent months of Russia's unique religious harmony.
A Moscow Patriarchate official who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Ecumenical News International that the murder could be connected to Sysoyev's missionary work among Muslims. "He led to Christianity people, whether Tatars or other ethnic groups, that were overwhelmingly Muslim," the official said.
Sysoyev gave lectures critical of Islam, debated directly with Muslim leaders, and wrote books on subjects such as the dangers of Christian women marrying Muslim men.
He also worked among people from other religions, and he had conflicts with pagans, the Interfax news agency reported. Sysoyev spoke out against nationalists who preach Stalin instead of Christ in one of the last postings on his blog, pr-daniil.livejournal.com.
Kirill Frolov, an Orthodox missionary activist who was close to the slain priest told Interfax that Sysoyev had received threats over the past two or three years calling on him "stop his theological polemics with Islam" or otherwise "he will be dealt with like an infidel".
Muslim officials had expressed anger with Sysoyev in the past, but on 20 November they expressed anger and sympathy about his death. [reprinted with permission]
May his memory be eternal.
Posted by: Fr Nathan Thompson | November 24, 2009 at 01:13 AM
He brings to mind another Russian priest-martyr, Father Alexander Men, who was killed in 1990 for bringing Russians to Christ. To this day, his murder has remained "unsolved". May Christ's good servants, the priests Danill and Alexander, be given repose in a place of light and peace, where there are no tears, sighing or mourning, and may he Lord God keep their memory eternal.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 24, 2009 at 05:13 AM
'The White Comrade' seems appropriate here:
http://www.bartleby.com/271/132.html
Posted by: Baillie | November 24, 2009 at 03:11 PM
It is sad to hear of the tragic death of Rev Daniil. A courageous man no doubt as he would know that seeking to bless others to hear the Gospel may come to this result. There is another point not to be missed. Devout Christians are willing to endure suffering and even be killed in order to be faithful to God; Devout muslims are willing to make others endure suffering and even kill them in order to be faithful to their God.
Posted by: martin | November 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I thank God there are still priests like this man who are willing to offer their lives as a pleasing sacrifice to Christ. "If the world hates you, remember it hated me first."
Posted by: Christopher | November 25, 2009 at 12:12 PM
His reward is great in the Kingdom of Heaven. May we be so fortunate as to live as faithfully and as fully in faith and love as this.
Posted by: Rob Buechler | November 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Fitna is disagreeing with Mohammed. It is a capital crime of thought in Islam. Any Muslim may carry out the death sentence and will be a hero for doing so. Mohammed assassinated his critics and had them assassinated. Freelance assassins who even murdered family members were given the highest praise by Mohammed. This is the man all Muslims are commanded to emulate. Father Siisov's murder for fitna is normative Islam and surprises no one who understands this core doctrine of Islam. Islam is a mind-control and information control death cult. Information about Islam is normatively controlled by violence and the threat of violence. There is no freedom of expression in Islam. Islam is antithetical to the Golden Rule and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Posted by: Morton | December 06, 2009 at 10:19 AM
May his memory be eternal.
Posted by: Chanel watches | October 27, 2010 at 03:35 AM