Thread by @Favillez

1) Right... These excerpts are from Patriarch Kirill's sermon yesterday, so in the wake of massive setbacks for Russia in Kharkiv.
To be very honest, I just can't tell at the moment if he is being serious or cynical, and hoping we read between the lines...

2) "Today is such a time – a time of anxiety, even very disturbing. And we must pray that all dangers will pass our Motherland, that those who dream of crushing Russia as an independent, truly independent state will be left with nothing."

3) "Today, the time has come when we should especially pray for our Fatherland, for our President - what difference does it make what the head of state is called!* for our army."
*Referring not to name, but to title (Grand Duke, Czar, or President)

4) "Russia has a special historical path. (...) today this special mission is returning and placed on the shoulders of our people."

5) Recalling the Grand-Dukes of the past, who were both military and Church leaders, he says: "Probably, such a combination is a guarantee that a country with such leadership will never commit war crimes."

Yes, you read that right...
But he goes on...

6) "Because if at the head of the Fatherland, at the head of the army is a saint, or maybe not a saint, but a believer, Orthodox, baptized, aware of his responsibility before God, Church and country, the country is guaranteed against all kinds of military adventures,

7) the country can be sure that the sword at his hip will be drawn only when it is morally, morally and even spiritually justified."

What?!?! Is he cynically saying that Putin is no Christian, and that is why Russia is in this mess? Please, let that be what he is saying...

8) "We live in a very difficult time, and therefore our special prayer is for the head of our state, for Supreme Commander Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who has a special responsibility, as well as for all military leaders and those who are in authorities.

9) So that the Lord would make wiser, strengthen, enlighten, protect from sins and mistakes and at the same time inspire actions that would bring protection to our Fatherland from all external, even perhaps the most dangerous and terrible threats."

10) Again, no idea what tone this is supposed to be read in. No idea. But it certainly is noteworthy...
Which is why you can read the whole thing on the blog, here: actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…

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