Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill...

"The abolishment of the death penalty provides an opportunity to help even the most dangerous criminals," he said.

This was the second murder of a priest in Russia in the recent weeks. Father Daniil Sysoyev, 34, was shot dead in his St. Thomas church in southern Moscow by a masked gunman on November 19. He was known for his active missionary work in converting Muslims and people seeking to quit religious sects into Christianity.

MOSCOW, December 23 (RIA Novosti)