Patriarch Kirill dedicated part of the sermon to denouncing the «sins» of the West, stating that Russia «challenged many great and powerful».
«As I say, they hate us because we offer a different path, an alternative path of civilizational development. There, scientific and technological progress and the complete collapse of everything related to human morality. ... Our country, having gone through enormous sorrows, has formed a strong character in people. By the grace of God, today there is a revival of faith in the Lord and Savior […] Today we especially ask the Lord to bless our homeland, our Orthodox president Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the authorities, the military, and all our people», — said the patriarch.
He also stated that Russia represents an «alternative to civilizational development, where science, technology, education, and the highest culture can be combined with faith in our Lord and Savior. And that is why they attack us. Well, physically it is not very successful. With slander of various kinds, creating certain blocks aimed at weakening Russia».
During the Christmas service, Patriarch Kirill met with Putin. He asked to have his initials engraved on the chains of the crosses for the soldiers of the «SVO», which were consecrated for the participants of the war.
The Russian Orthodox Church in its official position fully justifies the war in Ukraine, excommunicating priests who hold a different point of view. Thus, in the Pskov-Pechersk Theological Seminary, a subject «Fundamentals of preparing clergy for service in the combat zone» appeared, taught by Priest Alexei Voronyuk, who since 2022 has been traveling to the front-line territories, supporting Russian troops, writes «Pskov Province». He is called the «regimental priest» of the 234th regiment of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division.
«Verstka»* calculated that in 2024, 311 million rubles were allocated to church projects in two competitions of the Presidential Grants Fund. This is 16% more than a year ago, but less than in the first year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, the state sent almost half a billion rubles to the church in grants.
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».
Photo: AP