Thread by @Favillez

1) I have updated the statements by Patriarch Kirill. Nothing special in his sermons, but he made a report to the ROC Synod, which is chockfull of very interesting things, so brace yourselves!
Remember, the full texts of the statements are on the blog
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…

2) A very large part of the report is dedicated to the situation in Ukraine. The Patriarch recalls that this problem began in 2014, not in February, and that Russia had no choice but to step in to the Donbass, to act as a peacekeeper.

3) "This war was started by those in Kyiv who allowed the diabolical darkness into their hearts and blindly followed instructions to sow enmity among the united people of Holy Russia, united by a common history, culture and traditions. As time passed, it became abundantly clear

4) that Russia's peacemaking efforts to end this war were consistently sabotaged by both the Ukrainian authorities and Western countries, and further developments eloquently testify to this. (...)

5) The consequence of this was Russia's entry into an armed confrontation, which has been going on for 8 years, to protect the people of Donbas from arbitrariness and violence."

According to Kirill, the hostility against Russia is in fact hostility against Orthodoxy.

6) "The hostilities we are witnessing today are the consequence of a long civilisational conflict. We can notice, among other things, an undeniable religious dimension in them: an irrational hatred of the peoples professing Orthodoxy."

7) And here comes a gem. This Orthodoxophobia is why the West bombed Belgrade and dismembered Yugoslavia, according to Kirill.
"Is it not this hatred that caused the entire might of the Western war machine to descend on Yugoslavia in 1999?

8) Is not it the reason why, through economic or political blackmail, through the so-called colour revolutions, a wedge is consistently driven between the countries whose peoples are the bearers of Orthodoxy?"

9) Kirill expresses his sadness for the conflict, but knows where the blame lies. "We must bear witness with clarity that the blame for this lies first and foremost with those who set out to destroy the unity of Holy Rus’, the unity of our people and our faith."

10) There is a special mention for soldiers. "We pray that the Lord protect them from injury, captivity and destruction, but especially from sin: from hard-heartedness, from harming peaceful people, from inhuman treatment of others, from cowardice and betrayal."

11) And this is very interesting. Kirill notes that the law does not exclude clergy from mobilisation, although in practice this has been avoided. However, he would like to see this put into writing, enshrined in law.

12) The Patriarch laments anti-Russianism abroad. "Hatred of Russia, hatred of our centuries-old spiritual community, which is declared "spiritual justification of Russian imperialism", hatred of the identity of Orthodoxy, rejecting all attempts to "adjust" our worldview to the

13) standards of the Western secular and globalist project, inexhaustible streams of slander against the Church, on the Patriarch, on bishops and clergymen - all this is poured out daily in abundance on many of our brothers outside of Russia"

14) He beseeches all to strive for unity, but, interestingly cautions: "let us avoid every hasty and condemnatory word. Let it not come out of our mouths, particularly in these trying times!"

15) Next he asks the members of the Church to be careful that their statements on the issue in Ukraine not deviate from the official Church position. "You may be approached by parishioners with a request to give an assessment of the present situation. Remember that a priest is

16) called first and foremost to be the voice of the Church. And if he is not sure that he is expressing the position of the Church on a particular issue, it is better not to speak at all, but to abstain."

17) Kirill then changes track and talks about moral threats to Russian society, such as abortion, attacks on the family, etc., stressing the following: "It is our duty, when pointing out sin, to say, "It is sin," even when it comes to questions from high ranking people.

18) Of course, we can say it in different ways: we can say it with pastoral love, or we can say it with intonations that will hurt people. But in any case, evil is evil and vice is vice, and the Church must speak about it."

19) All fine and well, but my issue with this is: does the Patriarch believe it is sinful to bomb civilian infrastructures, such as energy plants in winter? Does he believe it is sinful that Russia is bombing civilian targets in cities?

20) If he does, then why is he not speaking truth to power at home, even to "high-ranking people"? Why is he silent? And if he does not believe they are sinful then, quite frankly, why is he still Patriarch?

21) The actual conclusions of the synod also include some mentions to the war, including approval of a list of prayers for soldiers, and also expresses solidarity with the members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who remain faithful to Moscow.

22) The relevant passages are all on the blog. Check them out in full, it is worth it.
actualidadereligiosa.blogspot.com/2022/02/war-in…

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