Russian church leveled after gay marriage

MOSCOW, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A Russian chapel has been demolished by order of the Orthodox Church because a priest married two men there, the London Telegraph reported Thursday.

The Chapel of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was torn down apparently after local churchmen decided it had been "defiled."

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The marriage in Nizhny Novgorod scandalized the Orthodox Church, which defrocked the priest, the Rev. Vladimir Enert.

The two gay men said Enert received a $450 bribe to ignore a ban of same-sex marriages.

A spokesman for the Orthodox Church said the chapel had to go, as it had been desecrated. Some local officials said it was due for demolition to make way for a new, larger church, though this would not open until 2005.

A spokesman for the patriarchate told the Daily Telegraph: "The chapel was dismantled because it is no longer needed," although he conceded the homosexual marriage may have "sped up the process."