Posted on 02/24/2022 7:17:53 PM PST by marshmallow
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill issued an address to the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning President Vladimir Putin’s announcement this morning of a “special military operation… for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.”
Your Beatitude! Your Eminences and Graces! Dear fathers, brothers, and sisters!
I take the suffering of people caused by the events taking place with deep and heartfelt pain.
As the Patriarch of All Russia and the primate of a Church whose flock is located in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, I deeply empathize with everyone affected by this tragedy.
I call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.
I appeal to the bishops, pastors, monastics, and laity to provide all possible assistance to all victims, including refugees and people left homeless and without means of livelihood.
The Russian and Ukrainian peoples have a common centuries-old history dating back to the Baptism of Rus’ by Prince St. Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles. I believe that this God-given affinity will help overcome the divisions and disagreements that have arisen that have led to the current conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at orthochristian.com ...
Too late.
Why doesn’t Patriarch Kirill of Moscow call for Putin to stop the war? Why, because he’s Putin’s lapdog.
It doesn’t work that way. Spiritual authority has no political authority.
We received a request from our ROCOR Bishop to ask St. Vladimir to intercede and quell war and violence in the region.
I know a few Ukrainian/Russian couplings, but haven’t asked their perspective on this. Will lay low and wait for them to provide input.
Of course he has no political authority, but Patriarch Kirill of Moscow can condemn Putin waging war against his Orthodox brethren.
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