The head of the powerful Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill, on Tuesday called Russians who do not serve their country “internal enemies” and said patriotism is the “greatest virtue,” the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing Reuters. .
Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, is a staunch supporter of the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes, seeking refuge abroad or in safer areas of the country. .
“Today, our prayer goes to our Motherland, that the Lord will protect it from internal and external enemies, from all those who do not connect their lives with Russia, who are ready to earn money in Russia, but never wanted to. to serve the Motherland,” Cyril said in the sermon, reports RIA.
“We must educate people, including through church sermons, love for the Motherland, the greatest of virtues,” he said in a sermon at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in the Kremlin in the center of Moscow.
Kirill did not elaborate, but his remarks appeared to be aimed in part at Russians who evade conscription, sometimes choosing to go abroad to avoid being drafted to take part in what Putin calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Putin has often used the Russian Orthodox Church and its rich traditions to promote a sense of national pride and patriotism among Russians. He was at the Easter service last week and crossed himself several times.
The Russian president, strongly supported by Patriarch Kirill, presents Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as a defensive response against what he sees as an aggressive and decadent West bent on destroying Russia and its culture.
Ukraine declares that Russia is waging an unprovoked war of aggression to seize territory and destroy its independence.
The 14-month war deepened divisions among Orthodox Christians around the world and prompted many Ukrainians to break with the Moscow Patriarchate headed by Cyril and join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. , which recognized his autocephaly in 2019. (Agerpres)
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Source: Hot News
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