Metropolitan Nestor no longer oversees parishes across France, Spain, Portugal and Italy
The Russian Orthodox Church has removed one of its top European bishops after discovering his secret side career as a poker player. Metropolitan Nestor, born Evgeny Sirotenko in Moscow in 1974, was dismissed for “disciplinary reasons,” though reports suggest the decision may also be linked to his moderate stance on the war in Ukraine.
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, announced Nestor’s dismissal on November 8, ending his role as overseer of parishes across France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Nestor, who was appointed Metropolitan of Korsun and Western Europe in 2022, had built a reputation as a thoughtful and well-liked leader in Europe. However, Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe revealed that he had been playing poker professionally on the side.
According to The Hendon Mob, a well-known poker database, Sirotenko has earned over $47,000 in live tournament winnings, with 12 cashes in 2025 alone across France, the Netherlands, Cambodia, and the Czech Republic. He reportedly plays frequently at Circus Club Paris, where he won a €350 tournament earlier this year and previously claimed a €500 event for €7,664.
While his buy-ins were modest, the Church’s canon law forbids clergy from gambling, making his activities a direct violation of religious rules. Sources also allege he may have used church funds to enter events, a claim currently under investigation. The scandal erupted shortly after Patriarch Kirill reportedly learned of Nestor’s poker pursuits.
Some church insiders believe the issue extends beyond gambling. Nestor had shown signs of disagreement with Moscow’s hardline stance on the Ukraine invasion, even co-signing a letter condemning the war in 2022. Parishioners in Paris have launched a petition supporting him, calling his removal unjust. Many suspect his dismissal has less to do with poker—and more with church politics and silencing dissent within the clergy.
