As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to impact both geopolitical landscapes and the lives of ordinary people, a growing number of Russian Orthodox priests who oppose the war have fled their home country to seek refuge in Germany. These clergymen face a unique set of challenges as they adapt to life in exile, grappling not only with typical immigrant struggles but also with the specific difficulties of rebuilding their lives after being silenced by both the Russian state and church.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many priests within the Russian Orthodox Church have been punished for speaking out against the war. Some have faced imprisonment or been banned from ministry, while others, fearing retribution, fled the country. Several of these priests have sought asylum in Germany, where they must navigate a foreign culture and an unfamiliar job market.
Life in Exile: Struggling to Start Over
Father Yakov (name changed for safety), a former Russian Orthodox priest, was one of those who fled the country. He had been actively involved in anti-war initiatives before leaving Russia in 2022, securing a humanitarian visa after Russia’s partial mobilization. However, Yakov’s first months in Germany were difficult. He struggled to make ends meet, working illegally in dishwashing jobs for a mere €3.50 an hour. Later, he was able to access a German language course, but his prospects of finding stable work remain uncertain due to the lack of transferable skills from his clerical profession.
Yakov is not alone in this predicament. Father Valerian Dunin-Barkovsky, who co-founded the organization Peace unto All to assist anti-war clergy, reported that in 2024, the group helped 45 priests and their families with financial support totaling €120,000. Dunin-Barkovsky himself fled Russia in 2018 after his son was persecuted for attending protests, and he now works in IT while also serving as a priest in Düsseldorf. He pointed out that the financial strain for these clergy is immense, as many need time to adapt to new jobs or learn new skills in order to survive.
Uncertain Future and Limited Opportunities
While some exiled priests, like Father Andrey Kordochkin, have tried to build a new career outside the church, transitioning from Russia’s ecclesiastical structures to a European context is far from simple. Kordochkin, who was suspended by the Russian Orthodox Church for his anti-war stance, now works on a postdoctoral thesis in Germany and serves as a rector in the Netherlands. He noted that transferring from the Russian Orthodox Church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has its own separate administration, is extremely difficult for exiled priests.
The path to integration is further complicated for those wishing to maintain their religious vocations. Many exiled clergy find that church communities in Europe are hesitant to accept them, particularly as they come from a patriarchate that has cut ties with the Constantinople-based Orthodox Church since 2018.
Faith and Solidarity in a Foreign Land
Despite the challenges, these priests continue to rely on their faith and the support of local communities. Both Dunin-Barkovsky and Kordochkin believe that many Orthodox churchgoers in Germany are open to joining parishes outside the control of the Russian Orthodox Church. They emphasize that the Orthodox faith is not defined by the church’s political agenda, particularly in the face of the Russian government’s manipulation of religious institutions for its own ends.
“The Russian Orthodox Church can’t take away the Orthodox faith from people,” Dunin-Barkovsky remarked, highlighting the resilience of both the clergy and their congregations in their new homes.
For these exiled Russian Orthodox priests, the struggle for survival in a foreign country is just one part of the larger battle to preserve their integrity, faith, and commitment to peace amid the ongoing war. Their journey illustrates not only the personal toll of political repression but also the broader implications of a conflict that continues to shape the lives of many, even far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Russian Orthodox Church Cologne by Velopilger CC-BY-SA-4.0