Toronto orthodox priest criticized for accepting medal from Putin

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The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said it was disgraceful that Father Vladimir Malchenko shook hands with Putin two days after Russia bombed a school in Ukraine, killing 55.

At a ceremony at the Kremlin on Nov. 4, Putin presented the Order of Friendship to Father Vladimir Malchenko, head priest at Toronto’s Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church.

A video of the event obtained by Global News shows Malchenko striding onto a stage to greet Putin, who shakes the priest’s hand and pins the Russian state honour onto his frock.

The awards ceremony took place on Russia’s National Unity Day. In his remarks praising Malchenko, Putin also celebrated Russian troops he said were “bravely” fighting in Ukraine.

Reached by phone this week, Malchenko said he had no regrets about being honoured by Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes for the abduction of Ukrainian children.

“I don’t look at it as a political act. It’s an act of recognition of our pastoral duties here in Canada,” Malchenko told Global News after returning to Toronto from Moscow.

“And our community is very grateful that there’s been a certain amount of recognition of our work here to comfort people’s lives in Canada,” said Malchenko.

Two days before Malchenko exchanged pleasantries with Putin, Russia bombed a school in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region that was used as a humanitarian hub, killing more than 50 people.

“This is a textbook case of moral hypocrisy unbecoming of an individual who purports to promote Christian teaching,” said Danylo Korbabicz, CEO of the Canadian Ukrainian group.

The Order of Friendship is awarded for “outstanding contributions to strengthening friendship” and “fostering peace and friendly relations among countries.”

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