Articles for Russian Orthodox

Damaged in war, a vibrant church in Ukraine rises as a symbol of the country’s faith and culture
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Damaged in war, a vibrant church in Ukraine rises as a symbol of the country’s faith and culture

Associated Press  

LYPIVKA, Ukraine — This Orthodox Easter season, an extraordinary new church is bringing spiritual comfort to war-weary residents of the Ukrainian village of Lypivka. Almost 100 residents sheltered in a basement chapel at the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary while Russian troops occupied the village in March 2022 as they closed in on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, …

Ukraine Church Russian Village Ukrainian Easter Russians
A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended by the patriarch
8 months ago

A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended by the patriarch

Associated Press  

The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Chuch has suspended a priest who participated in services for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Dmitry Safronov took part in Navalny’s funeral as well as presiding at the commemoration on March 26, the 40th day after his death — an important Russian Orthodox tradition. Russian authorities initially refused to release Navalny’s body, citing …

Russian Navalny Safronov Russian Orthodox Orthodox Priest
‘God of war’: Russian Orthodox Church stands by Putin, but at what cost?
10 months, 2 weeks 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 …

War Ukraine Belarus Putin Russian Moscow Kremlin
Ukraine snubs Russia to celebrate Christmas on December 25 for first time
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Ukraine snubs Russia to celebrate Christmas on December 25 for first time

Hindustan Times  

Ukraine is celebrating Christmas on December 25 for the first time since its independence. Believers attend a Christmas Eve service at the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral as Ukrainians celebrate their first Christmas according to a Western calendar Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a Christmas message which was released on Sunday evening. This new date of celebration is a snub to …

Christmas Ukraine Russia Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Russian Orthodox Church
Anchorage’s oldest building, a Russian Orthodox church, gets new life in restoration project
1 year, 1 month ago

Anchorage’s oldest building, a Russian Orthodox church, gets new life in restoration project

Associated Press  

EKLUTNA, Alaska — The Russian Orthodox church on the outskirts of Alaska’s biggest city is packed with treasures for the Christian faithful: religious icons gifted by Romanov czars, panels of oil paintings and jewel-studded incense burners. “There aren’t that many Russian Orthodox followers, but it’s part of our heritage and we do want to see it preserved.” The presence of …

Church Spirit Alaska Russian Rivas Orthodox Restoration Project
Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from State and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
1 year, 4 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 …

Peace War Ukraine Church State Putin Russian
Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine
1 year, 4 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 …

Peace War Ukraine Church State Putin Russian
Biden sceptic about Russia’s ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas
1 year, 11 months ago

Biden sceptic about Russia’s ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas

Live Mint  

Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to gain some breathing room, according to US President Joe Biden, with the ceasefire order in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. "Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to …

Ukraine Russia Biden Putin Russian Orthodox
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin orders 36-hour ceasefire over Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday
1 year, 11 months 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 …

War Ukraine Russia Russian Moscow Turkish Kremlin
How many must die? Pope blasts Russia war, appeals for peace
2 years, 3 months ago

How many must die? Pope blasts Russia war, appeals for peace

LA Times  

Pope Francis meets with Metropolitan Anthony, right, in charge of foreign relations for the Russian Orthodox Church, at the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Pope Francis told the Russian Orthodox hierarchy and other faith leaders Wednesday that religion must never be used to justify the “evil” of war, and asked at …

Peace Ukraine Congress Religious Leaders Kazakhstan Muslim Russian
Mariupol remembered: a bright future reduced to rubble
2 years, 4 months ago

Mariupol remembered: a bright future reduced to rubble

Al Jazeera  

‘I still keep the keys to my apartment’ The United Nations says 90 percent of Mariupol's buildings have been destroyed since Russian forces attacked the city in late February. Kyrylo confirmed in August 2022 that he has received information posted by an adviser to the city’s mayor on the messaging app Telegram that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St Peter’s …

Ukraine City Ukrainian Mariupol Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox
UK sanctions Russian Orthodox head; decries forced adoption
2 years, 6 months ago

UK sanctions Russian Orthodox head; decries forced adoption

Associated Press  

LONDON — Britain announced a new round of sanctions Thursday against Russia, targeting the head of the Russian Orthodox Church for his prominent support for the war in Ukraine as well as Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, who Britain said is responsible for the forced transfer and adoption of hundreds of Ukrainian children into Russia. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Patriarch …

Ukraine Russia Russian Britain Ukrainian Truss Russian Orthodox
A growing number of white nationalists identify with Vladimir Putin
2 years, 7 months ago

A growing number of white nationalists identify with Vladimir Putin

NPR  

A growing number of white nationalists identify with Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in Moscow's Red Square during a Victory Day celebration, telling troops that they are fighting in Ukraine "so that nobody forgets the lessons of World War II." FLORIDO: In the third month of Russia's attack on Ukraine, international observers braced for what Russian President Vladimir …

War Ukraine Russia Church Victory Day White Christian
The Russian Orthodox Church leader who gave his blessing for the war in Ukraine
2 years, 7 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 …

War Ukraine Church Putin Russian Moscow Leader
Russia-Ukraine latest updates: UN chief to meet Putin in Moscow
2 years, 8 months ago

Russia-Ukraine latest updates: UN chief to meet Putin in Moscow

Al Jazeera  

Ukraine news from April 22: UN Secretary-General Guterres will meet Russian President Putin on Tuesday to press for fighting to stop in Ukraine. “He will also be received by Russian President Vladimir Putin.” 22 Apr 2022 - 15:50 GMT Mariupol mayor: Russians “filter” Ukrainian men The mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Russian forces have almost completely …

China Military Russia Canada War Crimes Germany World Bank
A spiritual defense of the war in Ukraine? Putin’s patriarch is trying
2 years, 8 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 …

Religious War Ukraine Church Christian Putin Russian
Patriarch Kirill: Putin ally faces backlash after ‘blessing’ war
2 years, 8 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 …

War Ukraine Church West Putin Russian Moscow
Archbishop tells head of Russian Orthodox Church of ‘grave concern’ over Ukraine
2 years, 9 months ago

Archbishop tells head of Russian Orthodox Church of ‘grave concern’ over Ukraine

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken to the head of …

Peace Ukraine Church Russian Archbishop Grave Concern Russian Orthodox Church
Amsterdam branch of Russian orthodox church breaks away over Ukraine
2 years, 9 months ago

Amsterdam branch of Russian orthodox church breaks away over Ukraine

Dutch News  

The clergy at the Amsterdam parish of the Russian Orthodox Church are moving to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, another movement within the Eastern Orthodox churches, because of threats from the Russian Orthodox archbishop in the Netherlands. Last weekend the church told Dutch archbishop Elisey that priests would no longer include the name of church patriarch Kirill during services because of …

Ukraine Church Russian Russian Orthodox
Amsterdam branch of Russian orthodox church breaks away over Ukraine
2 years, 9 months ago

Amsterdam branch of Russian orthodox church breaks away over Ukraine

Dutch News  

The clergy at the Amsterdam parish of the Russian Orthodox Church are moving to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, another movement within the Eastern Orthodox churches, because of threats from the Russian Orthodox archbishop in the Netherlands. Last weekend the church told Dutch archbishop Elisey that priests would no longer include the name of church patriarch Kirill during services because of …

Ukraine Church Russian Russian Orthodox
Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks
2 years, 9 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 …

War Ukraine Church Putin Moscow Ukrainian Donbas
Reaction to Turkish ruling and Erdogan statement on Hagia Sophia
4 years, 5 months ago

Reaction to Turkish ruling and Erdogan statement on Hagia Sophia

Firstpost  

- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia open to Muslim worship on Friday after a court ruled that the building’s conversion to a museum by modern Turkey’s founding statesman was illegal. Below are some reactions to the court’s ruling and Erdogan’s announcement - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia open to Muslim worship on Friday after …

Turkey Turkish Erdogan Hagia Sophia Russian Orthodox Church