Orthodox Church In Russia Insists Clergy Not Hold Civil Office

Interfax today reports that a Russian Orthodox priest is about to be suspended by the church after he won a recent civil election to become head of administration in the Russian village of Ladovksaya Balka. Yevgeny Bronsky, press secretary for the Diocese of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz said: "Canonically, a priest cannot be a temporal chief. By his decision to head an administration Igor Sheverdin has violated the oath he gave when he was ordained priest".