Former deacon of St Stephen’s Cathedral in Syktyvkar, Syktyvkar diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In early March 2022, he signed the appeal of the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church for reconciliation and ending the war (his signature is number 235). He spoke out against the war in his social media and at public events, and received threats from the odious Archbishop of Syktyvkar and Komi-Zyryansk Pitirim (Volochkov) known for his pro-war stance and support for Putin.
On 19 November 2022, the Secretariat of the Syktyvkar diocese published the following statement regarding deacon Arkady on the website of the eparchy: “The Secretariat of the Syktyvkar dioces reminds that the public statements of deacon Arkadiy Fomin, an out-of-staff deacon of the Syktyvkar diocese, may contain private opinions that do not reflect the official position of the Syktyvkar diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).»
The story of deacon Arkadiy Fomin was told by the editors of RFI/RL Sever.Realii radio station, however, the reporting did not make clear what kind of disciplinary sanction was imposed on him — a dismissal from the diocese staff or a suspension of his priestly ministry. On the website of the Syktyvkar diocese, deacon Arkadiy Fomin is referred to as “out of staff”; the decree on his suspension, if any, was not published.
