Patriarch Kirill of Moscow stated against the backdrop of the actual separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that the separation process of churches does not come from God. The war in Ukraine took place because of the rise of the “spirits of heavenly maliceâ€, and Lenin was to blame for the split in the church. This was discussed at Kirill's Sunday sermon in Moscow.
Kirill stated that the problems in the Russian Church began when Vladimir Lenin "destroyed the united state" and "announced the creation of independent states."
According to the Moscow Patriarch, against the backdrop of the recent events in Ukraine, which he did not call either a “war†or a “special operationâ€, “spirits of malice from heaven†have risen in Ukraine.
They took up arms against our Church, seeking not just to divide the Orthodox people of Russia (probably, meaning Russia - Ed.) and Ukraine, but to make sure that a gulf lay between us. Not just an abyss, but that a ditch is dug, similar to those ditches used during a military operation, so that the enemy does not pass.
I am deeply convinced that since all these efforts are not from God and not with God's blessing, the true goal will never be achieved,†Kirill said.
Who exactly is trying to “divide the peoples†Kirill did not specify, saying only that the borders of states can change, but some “our pious people†must remain united, like the Church.
The Moscow patriarch even expressed his “understanding†the hardships of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
“We fully understand how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church suffers today. We understand that His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry and the episcopate should act as wisely as possible today not to complicate the lives of their believing people. But we pray that no temporary, external mediastinum will ever destroy the spiritual unity of our people,†Kirill said.
Recall that on May 27, the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate stated that it did not agree with Patriarch Kirill on the issue of Russia's war with Ukraine, and the UOC would continue to act as "independent and independent."
All references to both the Moscow Patriarch and unity with the ROC were removed from the Charter of the UOC at the Council.
In fact, the UOC decided on a complete administrative separation from the ROC, but the fundamental issue of spiritual communion for the church was not touched upon. Kyiv continues to communicate with the Russian Orthodox Church.
