According to him, Smirnov periodically allows himself to make statements offensive to women.
“He does this, I believe, with good intentions, wishing to draw public attention to the topic of protecting marriage and the family. However, it is not always successful. I apologize to the many women who felt insulted by the next shocking statement of the priest, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
The metropolitan, commenting on the unregistered cohabitation of a man and a woman, added that, in his opinion, this kind of relationship could put a woman in a difficult position, as a result of which they find themselves
"A weak link, especially if a man is wealthy."
Earlier, the head of the synodal department for relations between the church and society and the media of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoyda, said that Smirnov’s words about common-law wives were unacceptable, which he compared them to "free prostitutes."