The Russian Orthodox Church can start the canonization process of Suvorov

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) can begin the process of canonization, that is, the canonization of 18th-century general Alexander Suvorov. The agenda of the meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was held on Thursday, included an item on the transfer of the question of the possible canonization of Suvorov to the consideration of the synodal commission. Has any decision been made yet to be reported.

Last year, shortly after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu asked the Russian Orthodox Church to canonize Suvorov as a saint. The Russian Orthodox Church then announced that they would study Suvorov’s biography and various testimonies about him. For canonization, in particular, “public veneration of an ascetic as a saint” is needed, as well as evidence of miracles associated with his name.

The synodal commission on canonization was created in 1989. If it is approved, the final decision on canonization is taken by the Synod or the Council of Bishops.

In 2001, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Suvorov’s contemporary commander-in-chief Fyodor Ushakov.

Alexander Suvorov is one of the most famous commanders of the Russian Empire, who fought against Prussia, Turkey, France, Poland, suppressed the Pugachev uprising, generalissimo, count of Rymnik, prince of Italy. It is believed that he did not lose a single battle. Suvorov’s name was included in the official “pantheon” of heroes in the era of Stalin’s rule. In Poland and a number of other European countries, Suvorov was accused of cruelty, in particular, during the storming of the Warsaw-Prague suburbs in 1794, during which thousands of rebels and civilians died.