Shot to death in his own Moscow church:
A Russian Orthodox priest known for his outspoken criticism of Islam and attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity has been assassinated in his Moscow church.A masked gunman shot Father Daniil Sysoyev in the head and chest after asking for him by name, police said. The choirmaster, Vladimir Strelbinsky, was seriously wounded in the attack at St Thomas Church in southern Moscow.
Father Daniil, 35, died of his wounds in hospital late last night. A Russian newspaper reported that he had recently told its journalists of 14 death threats by telephone and e-mail, which he had received as a result of his work among Muslim migrants from former Soviet republics.
"They've threatened to cut my head off 14 times," the priest told Komsomolskaya Pravda, adding that the Federal Security Service had contacted him last year after uncovering a plot to murder him.
He claimed to have christened 80 Muslims, "among them Tatars, Uzbeks, Chechens and Dagestanis". He said that other priests were unwilling to follow his lead because "they are afraid of revenge from the Muslim world".
But that doesn't mean he was killed by Muslims. More:
Father Daniil also had enemies among Russian nationalist groups and admirers of Joseph Stalin, whom he criticised on his blog for ignoring the murders of innocent people. The priest also made enemies among radical Russian pagans for his efforts to persuade people to leave religious cults.
Whoever his killer or killers, this priest almost certainly died a martyr for the Christian faith. RIP.
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That's the Way.
We all take the part of someone involved in the Passion. Fr Daniil chose the better part. We who come after know Jesus is the archetypal human, the rule not the exception - so it is more natural to be like Jesus.
Fr Daniil knew every knee will bend, those in heaven, on the earth and in hell and every tongue confess that Jesus is in the glory of God the Father. [Phil] He doesn't want to be ashamed when it all happens.
There are things worse than death. Amen.
Note also the difference in the use of the word "martyr" here.
The priest was a true martyr.
Very different from those who blow themselves up with the intention of killing as many others as possible in the process, who are then given the title.
We should avoid jumping to any conclusions and wait for the Russian government to investigate. Rod, if possible could you do a follow-up when more information becomes available?
Meanwhile we soul pray for Fr Daniil's soul. Vechnaya pamyat, Otyets Daniil!
"A masked gunman comes and asks for a priest by name and then shoots him. While this could a member of any of the groups mentioned in the article, this has the feel of a mob hit to me. "
You know, this is an interesting point. If it was "punishment" for his conversions of one group, or criticisms of another, wouldn't they want the reason behind the killing to be clearly known? Ambiguity and covertness don't really further the cause.
Condolences to family and friends.
Probably a Mohamadan, if he asked by name, he didn't know the Priest and was probably enlisted to kill and go to heaven.
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