Luxury wristwatch causes publicity headache for Moscow Patriarch

CWN - April 06, 2012

The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow has been caught in a public-relations gaffe, as a photo of Patriarch Kirill was clumsily doctored to remove evidence that he was wearing a very expensive wristwatch.

The patriarchate eventually admitted that the photo had been altered, apologized for the deception, and said that the $30,000 Breguet watch had been a gift to the Orthodox prelate. But meanwhile, to complicate matters, Patriarch Kirill had claimed that he had never worn the watch.

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  • Posted by: hartwood01 - Apr. 07, 2012 7:00 PM ET USA

    Embarrassing for the Patriarch. I can't get over priests wearing "bling" in their secular dress and gold rings on both hands in their clerical dress. A shocking sight for me,being used to diocesan priests who did not decorate themselves. Who are they trying to impress? Not the poor,certainly.

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