Ex NHLer Pavel Datsyuk holed up with COVID-19-denying Russian priest

A strange situation is brewing in Russia involving former NHL star Pavel Datsyuk. According to Russian media reports, the two-time Stanley Cup champion has locked himself in at a monastery in Ekaterinburg with a priest who claims that the COVID-19 outbreak is a “pseudo-pandemic” being used as an excuse to microchip the public.

The priest, who goes by Schema-Hegumen (Father Superior) Sergius, was ordered to stop his services at a local church after spreading several conspiracy theories regarding the Corona virus pandemic. He refused to do so. Sergius was order to face a church trial on June 15th, but instead reportedly took over the monastery, which is being guarded by Cossacks, a group of predominantly East Slavic-speaking Orthodox Christians. Sergius serves as Datsyuk's personal confessor.

"Father Sergius has been my spiritual father for more than 10 years," Datsyuk told Russian media. [He] has a burning, loving heart, he sees me through and through. He is strict, but also very kind. As before, with my family, we want to come to the Monastery of the Loaves of Bread every Sunday. We know that the priest is waiting for me, we can confess to him, take communion, ask him spiritual questions of life, be blessed. With the blessing of the priest, many issues are resolved by themselves. I am grateful that God and I gave my family such a spiritual father."

Datsyuk returned to Russian in 2016 after 15 seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. He played three seasons with St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL before signing with Yekaterinburg Automobilist for 2019-20.

Sergius is a former police officer who spent 13 years in prison for murder. He is a supporter of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, saying he "had destroyed sodomy and lifted up the nation."

Source: Championat.com

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