The battle line between Russia and Ukraine also runs through the Russian Orthodox Church.

On the day of the Russian attack on the neighboring country, its head, Patriarch Kirill, called on both sides of the conflict to do everything possible to avoid casualties among the civilian population.

The patriarch stated that the "unfolding events" filled his heart with deep pain and he felt great sympathy for all those who were struck by the tragedy.

Significantly, Kirill did not talk about the war and its initiator, President Putin.

Kerstin Holm

Editor in the Feuilleton.

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It was therefore all the more symptomatic that the day before the invasion of Ukraine, the Patriarch had congratulated Putin on "Defender of the Fatherland Day", which is celebrated on February 23.

The Russian Church honors the profession of soldier, among its saints are numerous military leaders such as Fleet Admiral Fyodor Ushakov (1745 to 1817) or Alexander Newski, who with his victory over the Teutonic Knights in 1242 symbolizes the defense against advances from the west to this day.

On the eve of the invasion, the patriarch praised Putin for the audacity, courage and self-sacrifice of all those who, by serving in the troops, strengthened the defense and national security of the fatherland.

The Patriarch announced

that the Russian Orthodox Church sees in military service a manifestation of "gospel charity" and an example of fidelity to the high moral ideals of truth and good.

Kirill wished the President peace of mind and God's help in his high service to the Russian people.

In sharp contrast to this was the appeal by the Metropolitan of Kiev and Ukraine, Onufrij, who was subordinate to the Patriarchate, and called for an immediate end to the “fratricidal war” between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples.

The Ukrainian and Russian peoples were born of baptism in the Dnieper, Onufrij said, and the war between them repeats the sin of Cain, who killed his own brother out of envy.

This war cannot be justified either before God or before the people, said the metropolitan, addressing Putin, emphasizing that his church defends the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Immediately vilified by Russian propaganda media as serving the "war criminal Zelensky", the Metropolitan's appeal defends a Christian ethic