he Church loses credibility when it stops taking a critical stance towards political authorities and instead begins to give their actions religious significance, glorify them and legitimise them. This is one of the main problems facing the Moscow Patriarchate today.

German Evangelical Lutheran pastor Ralf Haska made these remarks in an interview with Libertas Fidei.

According to Haska, the Church’s ability to take a critical stance towards the state, or conversely, its close ties to it, often depends on how the Church understands its own mission. Does it see itself primarily as a defender of the people or as a partner of those in power?

“In the case of the Moscow Patriarchate, we have observed an exceptionally close relationship with the Russian state leadership for many years. Particularly since the invasion of Ukraine, the Church leadership has not merely supported the Kremlin’s policies but has, in many cases, also provided religious justifications for them. The statements and sermons of Patriarch Kirill leave no doubt about this,” the pastor emphasised.

He believes this issue must be discussed openly.

“The Church loses credibility when it stops taking a critical stance towards political authorities and instead begins to give their actions religious significance, glorify them and legitimise them. This is one of the main problems facing the Moscow Patriarchate today.

“Whether this means we should still speak of an independent religious organisation or rather of an instrument of state policy is open to differing interpretations. However, one thing is absolutely clear to me. The relationship between the Church leadership and state authorities in Russia is now so evident that Europe can neither ignore it nor downplay its significance,” Ralf Haska said.