Orthodox Christianity fractures as religious leaders turn on Moscow patriarch for blessing Putin's war: report
2 years, 9 months ago

Orthodox Christianity fractures as religious leaders turn on Moscow patriarch for blessing Putin's war: report

Raw Story  

On Thursday, the National Catholic Register reported that tensions are growing among Catholic and Orthodox Christians, as key religious leaders begin to cut the patriarch of Moscow — one of Vladimir Putin's key allies — out of decision-making. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, in blessing Russia’s war of aggression against fellow Orthodox and fellow Slavs in Ukraine, has lost all credibility as an ecclesial figure and ecumenical partner." WATCH: John Bolton says Trump's use of burner phones was 'deliberate' "Bartholomew had already felt the sting of Kirill’s cult of pseudo-czarist, quasi-Soviet imperialism," wrote de Souza. "In 2018, when Bartholomew, first among the Orthodox patriarchs, recognized an Orthodox Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv autonomous from Moscow, Kirill broke off communion with Bartholomew and declared him in schism.

Ukraine Russia Putin Moscow Catholic De Souza Orthodox Bartholomew Kirill Patriarch  patriarch  moscow  war  catholic  report  souza  turn  religious  longer  fractures  ukraine  bartholomew  tensions  putins  leaders  kirill  orthodox

History of this topic

Bulgaria's Orthodox Church elects a new patriarch with pro-Russian views
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Bulgaria's Orthodox Church elects a new patriarch with pro-Russian views

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church on Sunday …

Is Putin cracking under the pressure of his barbaric war? Russian tyrant seems withdrawn as he makes a rare public appearance at Orthodox Easter mass - after a week of 'losing 1,000 men a day in Ukrai
8 months, 1 week ago

Is Putin cracking under the pressure of his barbaric war? Russian tyrant seems withdrawn as he makes a rare public appearance at Orthodox Easter mass - after a week of 'losing 1,000 men a day in Ukrai

Daily Mail  

President Vladimir Putin appeared withdrawn and downcast in a rare public appearance at an Orthodox Easter Mass in Moscow. Putin attended a service at the packed Christ the Savior Cathedral for a night-time Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin. President Vladimir Putin appears withdrawn and downcast at …

‘God of war’: Russian Orthodox Church stands by Putin, but at what cost?
11 months, 1 week ago

‘God of war’: Russian Orthodox Church stands by Putin, but at what cost?

Al Jazeera  

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is the president’s spiritual leader, but he risks losing global clout. Moscow Patriarch Kirill, head of the world’s largest Orthodox Christian Church whose clout transcends Russia’s borders to believers in former Soviet republics and diasporas, has defended the Kremlin’s “right” to start the war. Ukraine was the ROC’s second-largest “canonical territory” with some …

Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict
1 year ago

Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday …

Ukraine puts head of Russia’s Orthodox church on ‘wanted’ list
1 year, 1 month ago

Ukraine puts head of Russia’s Orthodox church on ‘wanted’ list

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Officials in Ukraine have put …

On a US tour, Ukrainian faith leaders plead for continued support against the Russian invasion
1 year, 2 months ago

On a US tour, Ukrainian faith leaders plead for continued support against the Russian invasion

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Like other Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy in a delegation of Ukrainian interfaith leaders visiting the United States this week, Bishop Ivan Rusyn has a succinct message: “Please, hear our cry.” The deputy senior bishop of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church, a Protestant denomination, said that since the February 2022 Russian invasion, some of his church’s pastors have been …

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from State and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from State and church for supporting peace in Ukraine

The Hindu  

Standing in an old Orthodox church in Antalya with a Bible in one hand and a candle in the other, the Rev. Ioann Koval led one of his first services in Turkey after Russian Orthodox Church leadership decided to defrock him following his prayer for peace in Ukraine. “It breaks what seems to be a monolithic position of the Russian …

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine

Associated Press  

ANTALYA, Turkey — Standing in an old Orthodox church in Antalya with a Bible in one hand and a candle in the other, the Rev. Ioann Koval led one of his first services in Turkey after Russian Orthodox Church leadership decided to defrock him following his prayer for peace in Ukraine. “It breaks what seems to be a monolithic position …

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ioann Koval led one of his first services in …

Ukraine moves Christmas holiday, distancing itself from Russian tradition
1 year, 5 months ago

Ukraine moves Christmas holiday, distancing itself from Russian tradition

ABC  

Ukraine has moved its official Christmas holiday to December 25 in a break with the Russian Orthodox Church which celebrates it on January 7, according to new legislation. Key points: The change is designed to end Russia "imposing" its own celebrations on Ukraine, a note on the parliament website said It comes as part of a wider move to separate …

Pope's peace envoy arrives in Moscow after the short-lived Wagner rebellion
1 year, 6 months ago

Pope's peace envoy arrives in Moscow after the short-lived Wagner rebellion

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pope Francis’ peace envoy arrived …

With his luxury watch and murky Soviet past, Patriarch Kirill is Putin's spiritual leader and power broker
1 year, 11 months ago

With his luxury watch and murky Soviet past, Patriarch Kirill is Putin's spiritual leader and power broker

ABC  

When Patriarch Kirill sat down with Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov he might not have realised the meeting would embroil him in controversy. Then-prime minister Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, the man who served as president in between his terms, were front and centre at Patriarch Kirill's enthronement. After Patriarch Kirill endorsed Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency in 2012, …

Vladimir Putin orders 36-hour Orthodox Christmas ceasefire; Ukraine calls it hypocrisy
2 years ago

Vladimir Putin orders 36-hour Orthodox Christmas ceasefire; Ukraine calls it hypocrisy

The Hindu  

Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 5 ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to run during Orthodox Christmas, a move that war-battered Kyiv swiftly branded as “hypocrisy”. Both nations celebrate Orthodox Christmas and the Russian leader’s order came after a ceasefire was urged by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch Putin supporter. Earlier …

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire over Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday
2 years ago

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire over Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday

India TV News  

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow’s armed forces to observe a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday, the first such sweeping truce move in the nearly 11-month-old war. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Kirill’s call as “a cynical trap and an element of propaganda.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed …

Kyiv dismisses Putin’s call for 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine as ‘hypocrisy’
2 years ago

Kyiv dismisses Putin’s call for 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine as ‘hypocrisy’

CNN  

CNN — Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defense minister to implement a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for 36 hours this week to allow Orthodox Christians to attend Christmas services, according to a Kremlin statement Thursday. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak responded to Putin’s move on Twitter by saying that Russia must leave “occupied territories” in Ukraine before any …

Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas
2 years ago

Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas

India Today  

Russian President Vladimir Putin today ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas, the first major truce of the more than 10-month-long war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated swathes of Ukraine. "Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime …

Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas
2 years ago

Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas

India Today  

Russian President Vladimir Putin today ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas, the first major truce of the more than 10-month-long war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated swathes of Ukraine. "Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime …

Some Ukrainians move up Christmas to part ways with Russia
2 years ago

Some Ukrainians move up Christmas to part ways with Russia

Associated Press  

BOBRYTSIA, Ukraine — Ukrainians usually celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7, as do the Russians. The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and some other Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar. The Catholic Church first adopted the modern, more astronomically precise Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, and Protestants and some Orthodox churches …

Scrutiny of Ukraine church draws praise, fear of overreach
2 years, 1 month ago

Scrutiny of Ukraine church draws praise, fear of overreach

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — After its searches of holy sites belonging to Ukraine’s historic Orthodox church, the nation’s security agency posted photos of evidence it recovered — including rubles, Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch. Zelenskyy called for legislation that would forbid “religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operate in Ukraine.” …

Ukraine bans religious organizations with links to Russia
2 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine bans religious organizations with links to Russia

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ukraine on Friday banned the …

Ukraine to curb activities of Russia-linked religious groups
2 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine to curb activities of Russia-linked religious groups

Al Jazeera  

Ukraine will move to place restrictions on the activities of Russian-linked religious organisations in the country, and security services will begin an investigation into a Moscow-linked branch of the Orthodox Church after a raid on a monastery last week “The National Security and Defence Council has instructed the government to propose to a bill on proscribing activities in Ukraine by …

With searches, Ukraine focuses suspicions on Orthodox clergy
2 years, 1 month ago

With searches, Ukraine focuses suspicions on Orthodox clergy

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — An investigation of a centuries-old monastic complex in Ukraine’s capital and other religious sites has underscored Ukrainian authorities’ suspicions about some Orthodox Christian clergymen they see as loyal to Russia despite Moscow’s nine month-old war on the country. But they have been fractured along lines that echo political tensions over Ukraine’s defense of its independence and its …

Ukraine raids 1,000 year old Russia-backed Kyiv monastery
2 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine raids 1,000 year old Russia-backed Kyiv monastery

Al Jazeera  

SBU intelligence service says the raid was to investigate suspicions of Russia using the complex for sabotage and to store weapons. Ukraine’s security service and police have raided a 1,000-year-old Orthodox Christian monastery in Kyiv to counter suspected “subversive activities by Russian special services”. War deepens split In Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukrainian authorities of “waging a war …

Moscow patriarch: Russian war dead have their sins forgiven
2 years, 3 months ago

Moscow patriarch: Russian war dead have their sins forgiven

Associated Press  

Russian soldiers who die in the line of duty in Ukraine have all of their sins forgiven, the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church proclaimed in a sermon, comparing their sacrificial death to that of Jesus. The assertion, made on Sunday, ratchets up Moscow Patriarch Kirill’s already staunch support for Russia’s war on Ukraine since its beginning in February. “If …

Pope heads to Kazakh interfaith congress, without patriarch
2 years, 4 months ago

Pope heads to Kazakh interfaith congress, without patriarch

The Independent  

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Francis travels to the majority-Muslim former Soviet republic on Tuesday to minister …

The Russian Orthodox Church leader who gave his blessing for the war in Ukraine
2 years, 8 months ago

The Russian Orthodox Church leader who gave his blessing for the war in Ukraine

Firstpost  

Patriarch Kirill, a key supporter of Vladimir Putin, has justified the war, calling it a ‘religious cleansing operation’. ‘Putin’s altar boy’ In March, Pope Francis held a video meeting with the 75-year-old leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and warned against hiding behind religion to justify the conflict. “In many ways, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has become a holy war …

Pope’s Ukraine diplomacy a political and spiritual tightrope
2 years, 8 months ago

Pope’s Ukraine diplomacy a political and spiritual tightrope

Associated Press  

VATICAN CITY — His appeals for an Orthodox Easter truce in Ukraine went unheeded. Rather, Francis has found himself in the unusual position of having to explain his refusal to call out Russia or President Vladimir Putin by name — popes don’t do that, he said — and to defend his “very good” relations with the head of the Russian …

Pope Francis calls out Russian Orthodox Church leader for acting like 'Putin's altar boy'
2 years, 8 months ago

Pope Francis calls out Russian Orthodox Church leader for acting like 'Putin's altar boy'

Raw Story  

Pope Francis says that he has told the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, not to "transform himself into Putin's altar boy" by continuing to justify the Russian president's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The Catholic leader sharply criticized the patriarch for parroting Putin's justifications for the brutal assault. Kirill has echoed Putin's stated justifications for invading Ukraine, saying …

Divisions appear in Russian Orthodox Church over its support of Putin’s war in Ukraine
2 years, 8 months ago

Divisions appear in Russian Orthodox Church over its support of Putin’s war in Ukraine

The Independent  

On the holiest day in its religious calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church was struggling under the weight of its own contradictions. Although no bishop has yet indicated a desire to split with the Russian Orthodox Church, Father Kobetiak said the clergy and the faithful in Ukraine sought “spiritual independence”, mentioning how one priest is now serving “a half-ruined cathedral without …

Pope still working on meeting Russian Orthodox patriarch
2 years, 9 months ago

Pope still working on meeting Russian Orthodox patriarch

Associated Press  

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis said Sunday he was still working on arranging a meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, despite that leader’s seeming justification for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and said he wouldn’t rule out travelling to the region if it would help. Kirill has called for peace and for civilians to be spared …

A spiritual defense of the war in Ukraine? Putin’s patriarch is trying
2 years, 9 months ago

A spiritual defense of the war in Ukraine? Putin’s patriarch is trying

LA Times  

Wearing crisp, olive-green robes and a towering, white head covering embroidered with the somber face of Jesus, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, addressed the faithful from an ornate 10,000-seat cathedral in Moscow. “He describes the current situation in Ukraine as Russians defending against a foreign invasion, not as Ukrainians fighting for democracy, and their lives, against …

Patriarch Kirill: Putin ally faces backlash after ‘blessing’ war
2 years, 9 months ago

Patriarch Kirill: Putin ally faces backlash after ‘blessing’ war

Al Jazeera  

Pope and several priests appeal to the Russian Orthodox Church leader after he endorsed the Ukraine invasion. “Today we cannot speak like this.” Ten days earlier, in a sermon, Patriarch Kirill appeared to endorse Moscow’s so-called “special peacekeeping operation,” as the war on Ukraine is officially called in Russia. Thus, he gives the official Russian point of view a theological …

Why is Russia’s church backing Putin’s war? Church-state history gives a clue
2 years, 9 months ago

Why is Russia’s church backing Putin’s war? Church-state history gives a clue

Raw Story  

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has defended Russia’s actions and blamed the conflict on the West. Yet in more recent years, the president has embraced Russian Orthodoxy as a cornerstone of post-Soviet identity, and relations between church and state leadership have changed significantly since Kirill became patriarch in 2009. In 2012, Pussy Riot, …

Pope asserts Ukraine right to defense in blasting Russia war
2 years, 9 months ago

Pope asserts Ukraine right to defense in blasting Russia war

Associated Press  

ROME — Pope Francis on Friday denounced the “perverse abuse of power” on display in Russia’s war in Ukraine and called for aid to Ukrainians who he said had been attacked in their “identity, history and tradition” and were “defending their land.” Francis’ comments, in a message to a gathering of European Catholic representatives, marked some of his strongest yet …

Where Ukraine fits into Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'culture war'
2 years, 9 months ago

Where Ukraine fits into Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'culture war'

ABC  

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. By contrast, "Ukrainian society seems to be embracing more liberal values," says Professor Laruelle, helping Putin to frame Ukraine as influenced by the "amoral" West. Under Patriarch Kirill's leadership, the Church "cooperates closely with Vladimir Putin and the Russian state", says Professor Clay. "Putin takes religious politics very seriously and in 2018 called a …

Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks
2 years, 10 months ago

Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks

Associated Press  

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, leader of Russia’s dominant religious group, has sent his strongest signal yet justifying his country’s invasion of Ukraine — describing the conflict as part of a struggle against sin and pressure from liberal foreigners to hold “gay parades” as the price of admission to their ranks. He contended that some of the Donbas separatists were suffering …

Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks
2 years, 10 months ago

Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, leader …

Some of Ukraine's Orthodox churches want to break away from their Russian patriarch
2 years, 10 months ago

Some of Ukraine's Orthodox churches want to break away from their Russian patriarch

NPR  

Some of Ukraine's Orthodox churches want to break away from their Russian patriarch Enlarge this image toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR Claire Harbage/NPR On the day that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Church of St. George in Lviv, in western Ukraine, posted a sign on its front gate condemning Russia. The church belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church …

Russia’s war drives a wedge between Orthodox Ukrainians and the Moscow Patriarchate
2 years, 10 months ago

Russia’s war drives a wedge between Orthodox Ukrainians and the Moscow Patriarchate

Raw Story  

As Russian troops step up their assault, clergy and worshippers at the Ukrainian Orthodox churches that are attached to the Moscow Patriarchate are distancing themselves from Russia, placing into question one of the Kremlin's main channels of influence in their country. Three days after Russia invaded, Patriarch Kirill denounced the "evil forces" that were undermining the historical unity of Russia …

Pope condemns ‘diabolical logic’ of war
2 years, 10 months ago

Pope condemns ‘diabolical logic’ of war

The Hindu  

Pope Francis has denounced the “diabolical and perverse logic” of launching a war in Ukraine in his strongest public comments yet. Pope Francis also called Sunday for humanitarian corridors to welcome Ukrainian refugees fleeing the “tragic” invasion of their homeland. Pope Francis has refrained from calling out Russia by name as he seeks to mend ties with the Russian Orthodox …

How is Russia-Ukraine war linked to religion? | Explained
2 years, 10 months ago

How is Russia-Ukraine war linked to religion? | Explained

India TV News  

Ukraine’s tangled political history with Russia has its counterpart in the religious landscape, with Ukraine’s majority Orthodox Christian population divided between an independent-minded group based in Kyiv and another loyal to its patriarch in Moscow. Even though Russian President Vladimir Putin justified his invasion of Ukraine in part as a defense of the Moscow-oriented Orthodox church, leaders of both Ukrainian …

Pope: New meeting with Russian Orthodox patriarch possible
3 years, 1 month ago

Pope: New meeting with Russian Orthodox patriarch possible

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Pope Francis said Monday there …

AP Explains: Russia-Ukraine dispute raises new tensions
6 years, 1 month ago

AP Explains: Russia-Ukraine dispute raises new tensions

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the waters off the Crimean Peninsula has raised the prospect of a larger military confrontation between the two neighbors. But Russia’s ties with the industrial heartland of eastern Ukraine run deep, with many Russian speakers living there. ANNEXATION AND VIOLENCE Russia annexed the Crimea in 2014 after troops without insignia occupied …

Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine
6 years, 3 months ago

Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with the Constantinople Patriarchate over a “historic” decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent. The Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to “search for ways out of the …

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