Metropolitan Hilarion made his first public appearance since his recent detention in the Czech Republic by concelebrating with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow during the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) on June 1, 2026, at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.
The hierarch, who had until recently been serving in the Czech Republic, returned to Moscow a few days after being temporarily detained by Czech authorities as part of an investigation into narcotic substances allegedly discovered in a vehicle in which he was traveling.
In remarks following his return, Metropolitan Hilarion stated that he had received the blessing of Patriarch Kirill not to return, for the time being, to his previous place of ministry. He said that a decision regarding his future ecclesiastical assignment would be made at a later date and expressed his readiness to serve wherever the Church directs him.
According to Russian media reports, Metropolitan Hilarion continues to categorically deny any involvement with illegal substances, maintaining that the substances allegedly found in the vehicle “had been planted by third parties.” In an interview with Russian media, he described the circumstances of his detention, alleging that he was subjected to humiliating treatment by the police authorities.
According to the Metropolitan, the incident occurred on May 24 while he was traveling from Karlovy Vary to Prague. He claimed that the vehicle in which he was riding was stopped by police officers, who conducted a search and subsequently presented him with several small packets and a small container containing white powder, which they said had been found in the trunk.
The hierarch raised questions about the search procedure, asserting that there was no video recording of the search and that no independent witnesses were present. Following the inspection, both he and his driver were detained as suspects in a case involving the possession of psychotropic substances.
Metropolitan Hilarion remained in a detention facility near Prague for a period of time before being released together with his driver, without charges being filed and without any restrictive measures being imposed.
The Czech authorities have announced that the investigation remains ongoing, pending laboratory tests and the completion of investigative procedures.
Photo: patriarchia.ru
