The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee (OPAC) said that Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly justified Russia’s war against Ukraine and is increasingly tying the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Kremlin’s geopolitical interests.
This is stated in a statement published on August 30.
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee (OPAC) expresses deep concern over the actions and public statements of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
“Instead of raising his voice in defense of peace, reconciliation, and the sacred gift of human life, Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly sought to provide a religious justification for Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. He has portrayed this invasion as a sacred struggle, blessed those waging the war, and increasingly tied the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Kremlin’s geopolitical ambitions,” the statement says.
The authors recall that Patriarch Kirill described Russia’s nuclear arsenal as an expression of God’s “mercy and grace” and said that the creation of the Soviet atomic bomb came about through God’s providence and thanks to the prayers of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
“The Gospel preaches peace, reconciliation, and the sacred dignity of every human person. It must never be used to sanctify war, imperial conquest, or nuclear blackmail,” the statement emphasizes.
At the same time, the authors note that against this tragic backdrop, the resilience of the Ukrainian people is particularly evident.
We previously reported that the ideology preached by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is very close to classical fascism. This was stated by Archimandrite Kirill Govorun, a theologian and publicist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It was previously reported that the Moscow Patriarchate had published a new book by Russian Orthodox Church head Kirill (Gundyaev), titled “War. Beyond Visible Causes and Consequences.” In it, the Moscow Patriarch speaks of the “historical duty of Russians to be victors” and, among other things, justifies aggression against Ukraine.
As is known, Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill stated that the creation of the atomic bomb in Russia came about through the prayers of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, and described it as “God’s grace and mercy.” In a sermon, the patriarch noted that scientists working in Sarov had created the Russian atomic bomb, “which stopped the enemy’s plans to destroy and enslave the Fatherland.”
According to LF, in November 2025, Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev said that military valor is “inseparable” from spiritual valor and that participation in the 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 and a Doctor of Theology at the University of Münster, the Russian Orthodox Church has become one of the key institutions of mobilization and propaganda.
We previously reported that Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I condemned attempts to use religion to justify violence.
