A new book by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev), titled War. Beyond the Visible Causes and Consequences, has been published by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House. In it, the Moscow Patriarch speaks of the “historic duty of Russians to be victors” and, among other things, justifies the aggression against Ukraine.

This was reported by the Christians Against War initiative.

The book’s annotation states that the Patriarch “points to the great responsibility of not shirking the historic duty to be victors.”

“Our earthly calling is to be warriors of the Lord, to resist evil, and to defend lofty moral ideals. While affirming that the Russian people possess the strength to prevail, the Primate also points to the great responsibility of not shirking the historic duty to be victors,” the annotation reads.

In the context of the war against Ukraine, the author speaks of “overcoming Nazism and neo-Nazism.” This section is illustrated with portraits of the “heroes” Givi and Motorola, who are regarded in Ukraine as war criminals.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin praised the efforts of Moscow Patriarch Patriarch Kirill to support participants in the “special military operation” in a congratulatory message marking the 50th anniversary of the Patriarch’s episcopal ordination.

As LF previously reported, during a meeting with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, Moscow Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) said that “everything was good and prosperous under the Little Father Tsar” because at that time the Church was “part of the state apparatus.” Gundyayev also said that, after years of persecution, “the Lord has once again shown mercy to the Church and to the Orthodox people,” referring to Putin’s rule.

According to LF, in November 2025 Patriarch Kirill Gundyayev stated that military heroism is “inseparable” from spiritual heroism and that participation in war may be regarded as a form of Christian service. This attempt to justify the war through spiritual rhetoric provoked an immediate and sharp reaction within church circles.

According to Regina Elsner, a researcher of Eastern Christianity and ecumenism at the University of Münster and a Doctor of Theology, the Russian Orthodox Church has become one of the key institutions of mobilization and propaganda.

We previously reported that Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew I of Constantinople condemned attempts to use religion to justify violence.