The future of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sweden has been debated since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Critics say the congregations under the Moscow Patriarchate are following Putin's affairs, supporting the war and spreading propaganda to its members.
Patrik Oksanen, from the think tank Frivärld, thinks that the church should break ties with Patriarch Kirill in order to remain in Sweden's Christian Council and continue to take part in Swedish state support.
- The Moscow Patriarchate is an integral part of Putin's influence apparatus.
It is difficult to say where the church begins and ends.
But if we talk about the Russian empire building, the church goes hand in hand with Putin, he says.
Bless the Russian state
SVT has visited several services in one of Sweden's Russian Orthodox congregations under the Moscow Patriarchate.
During the visits, it appears that in addition to asking for peace, the Russian state, Patriarch Kirill and "a victory over the enemy" are also blessed.
Michael Hjälm, an Orthodox researcher and theologian, believes that it is not unique for the Russian Orthodox Church to pray for similar things.
- The risk is great that even if you would like to separate, it is not possible because there are too many ties between church and state.
The difficulty for the congregations in Sweden is to take a stand against the war without taking a stand against Russia.
It becomes even more difficult in a war situation, he says.
The head of the Moscow Patriarchate in Sweden, Vitaly Babushin, does not want to comment on politics or stand up for any interview.
Instead, he refers to a call against the war and a written statement in which he says that the congregations in Sweden pray for peace and a speedy end to the war in Ukraine.
The patriarch is subject to new sanctions
Sanctions now proposed against Patriarch Kirill are part of the EU's sixth sanctions package, and in addition to the spiritual leader, there are several high-ranking Russian soldiers.
This according to documents that several international newsrooms have read.
Described as Putin's closest religious man, Patriarch Kirill has been singled out as the ideological leader of the war and described in the documents as "one of the most influential supporters of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine."
What new sanctions will have consequences for the war, the church and the congregations in Sweden remains to be seen.
Archbishop critical to exclusive
Sweden's Archbishop Antje Jackelén, who is chairman of the Swedish Christian Council, emphasizes the importance of a dialogue and believes that an exclusion from the Christian Council is not the right way to go.
- As far as I know, the small Russian Orthodox community that exists in Sweden has not told me the same thing as the patriarch in Moscow.
To then exclude instead of seeking calls would be the wrong way to go.