Сергей Тороп: Лидер религиозного культа и его "Последний Завет"

Russian pseudo Christian cult leader
people with the name

Sergei Anatolyevitch Torop (Серге́й Анато́льевич То́роп, Sergej Anatolʹevič Torop; born 14 January 1961), known as Vissarion (, "He who gives new life" or "life giving"), is a Russian spiritual teacher and founder of the non profit, religious organization Church of the Last Testament, described by many organizations as a cult. Since 1991, on the basis of Vissarion's meetings, teachings and speeches, a multi volume text called The Last Testament has been written, outlining a set of principles focused on self improvement, self governance and community. In September 2020, Vissarion and two of his close students were arrested and taken away from homes by helicopters during an operation by Russia's Investigative Committee. The Russian authorities accused them of “creating a religious group whose activities may impose violence on citizens” Vissarion's arrest may have been part of a broader campaign against non conformist religious groups by the Russian government. As of 2021, Vissarion and the two others are being kept in prison in Novosibirsk. No trial has yet been scheduled and the community has continued operations.

Sergei Anatolyevitch Torop was born in Krasnodar to Anatoly Torop and Nadezhda (née Malashenko). At 18, he began compulsory service by enlisting in the Red Army, becoming a sergeant working on building sites in Mongolia, followed by three years as a factory metal worker in Minusinsk, Siberia. In the town, he worked as a patrol officer before losing his job in 1989. Reported to have gained nine commendations during his five years of service, he was made redundant. His religious beliefs combines elements of the Russian Orthodox Church with Buddhism, apocalypticism, collectivism, and ecological values. Torop founded the Church of the Last Testament in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia in 1991 just before the fall of the USSR. He predicted the imminent end of the world with only his followers being saved. His followers observe strict regulations, including abstaining from meat, smoking, drinking alcohol, swearing and the use of money. The aim of the group is to unite all religions on Earth. He replaced Christmas with a feast day on his birthday (14 January) and claimed to possess an ability to heal cancer and AIDS with a touch from his hand. In May 2012, the Vice YouTube channel released "Cult Leader Thinks He's Jesus", containing a report by Rocco Castoro, a reporter for Vice in Petropavlovka, and his interview with Vissarion. This was the first time Vissarion had granted an interview in three years. In 2018, the Japanese show Hyper Hardboiled Gourmet Report visited the City of the Sun, but did not interview the founder (Vissarion). It was able to interview multiple adherents, including children and a sub founder.

On 22 September 2020, Russian authorities arrested Vissarion on charges of running an illegal religious organization, possible physical harm to others, and extortion. He was apprehended by the FSB and Russian police, and taken to Novosibirsk central district court, along with two aides, Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov. Vissarion has a younger half sister, Irina. Although he has a biological mother of his own, Vissarion considers Mary, mother of Jesus as his mother.