Czech law enforcement officers confirmed that Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church was transporting cocaine
Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church, who was detained in the Czech Republic on May 24 with a white substance, was transporting cocaine.
“We can confirm that the examination has proven that the seized white powder is cocaine. It is a few grams that we found in the car and seized,” the police reported.
Metropolitan Hilarion was detained near Prague after a statement was sent to the police by e-mail. During a search of his car, law enforcement officers found bags of white powder. Two days after his detention, Hilarion was released; he is currently in Moscow.
In 2025, Hilarion was dismissed from the management of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese and sent to the Peter and Paul Church in Karlovy Vary after accusations of harassment. Hilarion himself denied these accusations. While in Hungary, he received Hungarian citizenship and lobbied for the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
After Hilarion’s detention, according to a special decree of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the metropolitan was sent to serve in the South American Diocese.
“You are assigned the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Santa Rosa, Brazil, as well as the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in the city of Campina das Misiones, Brazil, where you are to be located,” the decree states.
The decision about the new place of service was made after an incident in the Czech Republic, where police confirmed the seizure of cocaine during a search of the metropolitan’s car.
