You're reading: Patriarch Kirill calls on clergy not to use luxury cars

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has criticized clergymen who use expensive foreign cars.

 “Let’s think about using transport vehicles that will not serve as an excuse
for ill-wishers seeking to discredit the clergy,” the head of the Russian
Orthodox Church said on Friday.

Priests ought to stay moderate in all issues, he said.

There are cars imported from Japan, South Korea and some European countries
that are comfortable and reliable, but will not attract heightened attention, he
said.

Patriarch Kirill said that he refused to accept a Mercedes 600 that was
presented to him in the 1990s.

The patriarch said that today he was using cars from the government’s garage
for security reasons.