An Orthodox priest from Nova Scotia says he was fired because he prayed for Israel in church services and calling out anti-Semitism in the church.

Father Vladimir Tobin was the head priest of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Church in Halifax. He tells the Canadian Jewish News that he received a letter from Orthodox Church in America Archbishop Irénée, the archbishop of Ottawa and Canada, on Aug. 12, saying that he was being forced into retirement. The letter, according to Tobin, says the move is due to the "Jewish twist in your ministry."

Tobin says that likely refers to a sermon he recently gave in which he mentioned Israel and Judaism in favourable terms, asked for congregants to pray for Israel, and reminded the congregation that Jesus was a Jew.

“I’ve always been straightforward, have always spoken my mind,” Tobin says.

“I was happy in Orthodoxy but felt there was some anti-Jewishness there. I wrote a piece for publication, but was told by my superiors that it was ‘too Jewish.’ That increased my determination that Christianity grew from Judaism. My own theology recognized a faith that started with Abraham and grew through the centuries through Christ,” he says.

CJN reports that Tobin was first sent a letter from Archbishop Irénée in April, following a written complaint by the assistant priest, Father Alexander Treiger, who alleged that Father Tobin was, among other things, including prayers for Israel in his services.

“After much thought and consideration, I have decided that effective this date, April 8, 2019, you are officially retired as Rector of St. Vladimir Orthodox Church, Halifax, NS,” wrote the archbishop.

Tobin says he replied in writing saying "It is true that I regularly pray for both Israel and United States, its armies and its president, and for ‘the land of Israel and the armies which protect her.’ What is to prevent us for praying for other countries that need it? The U.S. and Israel are our allies and need our support for peace in the Middle East. There are precedents of praying for other nations within our tradition. My prayers are mainly intended to advance peace in the Middle East."

Tobin's parish council wrote to the archbishop at the time asking him to reinstate their priest, to which Irénée agreed.

However, on Aug. 12, the archbishop wrote to Father Tobin: "Now, I place you once more on retirement as of Monday, August 26, 2019. This will permit you to say your farewells to the Faithful of Saint Vladimir Parish and remove your personal possessions from the church premises."

The Archdiocese of Canada has not responded to a request for comment at this time. This story will be updated if they do.