Horrifying: Former head of Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary climbing into bed next to an altar boy

New details have emerged in the scandal surrounding Metropolitan Hilarion, the former head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary, who was removed from his post in Budapest amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Czech newspaper Deník N has published an interview with Hilarion’s former altar boy, George Suzuki, who provided previously unseen photos and video footage as evidence of the cleric’s behaviour.

The former altar boy told terrible things

One of the videos allegedly shows Hilarion, wearing only underwear, entering Suzuki’s room and climbing into bed beside him, pressing up close, writes 24.hu.

According to the former altar boy, this was not an isolated incident. “He even came into my bed before church services. I have proof,” Suzuki told the newspaper.

Suzuki described how Hilarion tried to win his trust by normalising physical contact. “He said sleeping without pyjamas was healthier and persuaded me to do the same,” Suzuki recalled.

“He started massaging me, at first while I was still dressed, but then removed my top and trousers, saying he needed to feel my skin better. It was uncomfortable.”

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He might have interesting connections in Hungary

The interview also revealed that during his time in Hungary, Hilarion reportedly maintained close ties with Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, claiming the two met once a month.

Suzuki also alleged that the metropolitan had planned to give a valuable wristwatch as a gift to none other than Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán — a watch Suzuki took with him when he fled, prompting a police search for its recovery.

Photographs provided to Deník N show Hilarion’s lavish estate in Vácrátót, near Budapest, complete with a swimming pool decorated with shark motifs and a wine cellar. The cleric had described the property as a “spiritual centre”, though according to Suzuki it served as his private luxury villa.

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Even the Russian FSB is in the full picture?

According to hvg, Suzuki further suggested that Hilarion may have had connections with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). He shared another video that allegedly shows the metropolitan firing a handgun at an FSB shooting range in Moscow.

Experts consulted by the paper confirmed that the firearm seen in the footage is standard issue for the FSB and the Russian military. While this does not prove that Hilarion was an FSB operative, the Deník N and Direkt36 investigative outlets confirmed the authenticity of the location.

The scandal first broke in the summer of 2024, when Suzuki accused Hilarion of sexual assault in an article published by the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

The accusations caused a major uproar within the Russian Orthodox Church, which suspended Hilarion from overseeing the Hungarian diocese. He was later permanently dismissed and reassigned to the Czech Republic.