September 22, 2020

Anna Murray 

The Russian Investigative Committee and Federal Security Service (FSB) announced September 22 the arrest of cult leader Vissarion, 59, a former policeman and Red Army conscript whose secular name is Sergei Torop, and two of his aides at his compound in a southern district of the Krasnoyarsk region. Russian federal security forces conducted a special operation involving helicopters and armed officers to storm the religious cult in Siberia. Two aides arrested by authorities are reportedly Vadim Redkin, Torop’s alleged right-hand man, and another associate named Vladimir Vedernikov.

The cult leader "Vissarion the Teacher" or "Jesus of Siberia", who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ in 1990 and founded the Church of the Last Testament, was detained on accusations of extorting money from his cult’s members, causing grievous bodily harm and using psychological violence to inflict serious harm to other persons.

Vissarion has run a cult based in the depths of Siberia for more than 3 decades. Reportedly Vissarion and more than 4,000 of his followers, called Vissarionites, live on the compound grounds in 20 rural settlements in southern Siberia. Meanwhile, he lives atop a remote hill, called the Abode of Dawn, with about 300 of the most devoted group. In addition, there are reportedly other 6,000 followers spreading worldwide.

Vissarion’s commune mixes a selection of rites drawn from Orthodox Christianity with environmental edicts and a series of other rules. Followers often wear austere clothing and count years starting from 1961, Vissarion’s birth year, while Christmas has been replaced with his birthday by a feast day on January 14. The official Russian Orthodox Church has condemned the cult for a long time but officials have largely left the devotees alone before.

Photo:Webshot.