German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday called on Christian believers to separate from the Russian Orthodox Church, which has sided with the Kremlin-initiated war in Ukraine, the German DPA agency reports, Agerpres reports.

“The leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church are now leading their believers and their entire church down a terrible, blasphemous path that is openly hostile to the faith,” Steinmeier said Wednesday at the start of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe. , in the south of Germany.

“They justify the war of aggression against Ukraine – against their own believers, against our brothers and sisters in faith,” he said.

Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill has repeatedly defended the actions of President Vladimir Putin.

“This propaganda against the free rights of citizens of another country, this nationalism that arbitrarily asserts God’s will for the sake of imperial dreams of dictatorial rule, this attitude must meet our opposition,” Steinmeier said. “Here in this hall, here in this assembly,” he urged.

Representatives of the Russian Church “do not need to regret the truth about this cruel war”

“We, as a Christian community, must declare our support for the dignity, freedom and security of Ukrainians,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized.

Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church also take part in this congress. Steinmeier said he expected them to “not let go of the truth about this brutal war and the criticism of the role of their church leadership.”

The President of Germany noted that dialogue is necessary, but it should not be limited to religious wishes and remain vague. “The victims must be named, as well as the aggressors and their accomplices,” he said.

On February 24, Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in what it calls a “special military operation,” an act of brutality not seen on the European continent since World War II.

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