The patriarch urged to accept those who returned to Russia with repentance

Russia should not reject people who left the country after February 24, 2022 for ideological reasons, if they return “with the realization that they really made a mistake.” Patriarch Kirill stated this in a Christmas interview with the state TV channel “Russia-1”.

“If people who left Russia and even opposed it somewhere, returned with the understanding that they really made a mistake, then the country cannot reject them,” said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Kirill mentioned the parable of the prodigal son and said that among those who left the country “there are quite worthy ones, but those who made a mistake, or were afraid, or really sought to find something more convenient for themselves in life, comfortable, but were embarrassed on this way “.

The patriarch also noted that the returning people “may have some law enforcement issues”, but this, according to him, “does not concern the clergy.”

During Russia’s war against Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill adheres to the pro-Kremlin position and justifies the reasons for the invasion. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is under sanctions from a number of countries.

After the start of the war, many Russians left the country. The authorities did not publish official data. According to Forbes, as of October 2022, about 700,000 people left Russia amid the announced mobilization. The Kremlin rejected these messages. At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan reported in December 2022 that almost three million Russian citizens entered the country, most of whom later left.

According to the Financial Times, from February 2022 to October 2023, more than 800 thousand people left Russia. About 15% of them returned to their families.

In turn, on Christmas Eve, President Vladimir Putin met with the families of Heroes of Russia, who died in the war against Ukraine. The event took place at Putin’s Moscow residence in Novo-Ogaryov.

More news from Radio Liberty: