The Russian Orthodox Church shares responsibility for war crimes

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said on Wednesday that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church shares responsibility with the Russian authorities for possible crimes in Ukraine. According to the patriarch, the Russian authorities “use the church as an instrument to achieve their political goals.” At the same time, Bartholomew emphasized that he was ready to participate in the post-war spiritual revival of Russia.

The Patriarch spoke at a conference in the Lithuanian Parliament. He said that the leadership of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church cooperated in the implementation of the military invasion of Ukraine and, in particular, in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Bartholomew called on religious and secular initiatives to cooperate in order to “neutralize the ability of the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate to undermine unity and theologically legitimize criminal actions.” However, he considers the mission of the Orthodox Church “to return Russian brothers and sisters to our community based on common values,” reports the Voice of America.

On Tuesday, the Lithuanian government and the Patriarchate of Constantinople signed a cooperation agreement. Patriarch Bartholomew announced the possibility of expanding the presence of the patriarchate in Lithuania, up to the creation of an exarchate there.

• The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, in his sermons and speeches after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, repeatedly said that “Russia has never attacked anyone” and blamed Western countries and some anti-church forces for inciting the conflict. He also spoke about the fact that the Russian military in Ukraine is protecting the country and called on the congregation to pray “for power and the military.” Kirill is under the sanctions of many Western countries.
• After the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (formerly the Moscow Patriarchate) announced its complete independence from Moscow. Also – at the insistence of the authorities of Latvia – the Latvian Orthodox Church applied for autocephaly, that is, full independence.