A Russian cult leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, marking the downfall of one of the country’s most bizarre and long-standing sects.
Sergei Torop- known to his followers as “Vissarion” or the Jesus of Siberia- was convicted by a Siberian court this week for inflicting psychological and physical harm on members of his religious commune. The 64-year-old, once a Soviet traffic officer, had led the “Church of the Last Testament” for over three decades.
His arrest in 2020 came during a dramatic special operation involving Russia’s FSB security service, armed troops, and helicopters. Video footage from the time showed masked officers escorting Torop and two aides- Vadim Redkin, a former boyband drummer, and Vladimir Vedernikov- to helicopters as stunned followers looked on.
Founded in 1991 after what Torop described as a divine “awakening,” the Church gained a strong following in the post-Soviet chaos. Thousands of adherents lived in remote hamlets in Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region, drawn by his teachings, which blended Orthodox rites with veganism, strict communal living, and a complete ban on alcohol, smoking, and money.
Inside the commune, where time was counted from Torop’s birth in 1961, Christmas was replaced by a feast on 14 January, his birthday. Followers believed Jesus orbited the Earth and the Virgin Mary ruled Russia, until Torop eventually declared himself the Messiah.
The Jesus of Siberia was charged with forming an illegal religious organisation that subjected members to psychological manipulation and exploitative labour. The court found that 16 people were harmed by his teachings, with six sustaining serious health impacts. Prosecutors said the cult extracted money and labour from members under coercion.
Torop’s conviction likely signals the end of the movement, which had previously escaped serious scrutiny despite being condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church. Speculation at the time of his arrest suggested local land disputes or rising political sensitivity may have played a role in the government’s decision to act.
Once viewed as a curious spiritual fringe, the Vissarion sect now joins the growing list of modern cults that ended with state intervention- and disillusioned followers left behind.
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