Ousted Russian Orthodox Church spokesman speculates that Patriarch Kirill will resign soon

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, the man who was the Russian Orthodox Church's spokesman until being fired yesterday, predicts that Patriarch Kirill—the head of the the Church—will soon resign from his post. 

According to Chaplin, the Patriarch “has ceased to understand that he is a collective project” and not an independent actor. 

Alexander Volkov, the head of the Patriarch's press service, refused to respond to Chaplin's remarks, saying he'll leave them on Chaplin's “conscience,” rather than “enter into polemics.”

“I think [the Patriarch] won't last long. I think this contradiction between the surrounding reality and his faith in his personal charisma will only grow,” Chaplin said.

On December 24, the Moscow Patriarchate Synodal Department combined Chaplin's department with another branch, putting both offices under the management of Synodal Information Department head Vladimir Legoyda, leaving Chaplin without a spokesman role.

Chaplin was the Church's spokesman since 2009, becoming a nationally known figure for his prominent media presence. 

Chaplin says the shakeup was punishment for failing to demonstrate sufficient loyalty. The Patriarch, Chaplin said, “thinks only his voice should be heard in the church.”