The Moscow Patriarchate believes that possible European Union sanctions against Patriarch Kirill are evidence of the “bestial hatred of European officials toward Russian Orthodoxy.”

This was stated by Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, according to Russian media.

According to Kipshidze, if the European Union imposes sanctions, they will have no impact on Patriarch Kirill or on his position.

Kipshidze also noted that several European countries oppose the introduction of sanctions against the patriarch.

As LF previously reported, Patriarch Kirill described the war against Ukraine as sacred and said that Russian soldiers killed on the battlefield wash away their sins. Many Orthodox churches described these statements as heresy. Religious analysts referred to this as “jihad” within the Russian Orthodox Church.

It is well known that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted resolutions against Patriarch Kirill, effectively describing him as complicit in war crimes.

As previously reported, Italy joined Bulgaria in expressing reservations about the European Union’s plans to impose sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

As LF previously reported, Bulgaria stated that it would not support the European Union’s new 21st sanctions package against Russia because it includes the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill. Two European Union diplomats familiar with the discussions disclosed this in Brussels on condition of anonymity.

We previously reported that Brussels is preparing another package of sanctions against Russia that could, among other measures, target senior members of the Russian Orthodox Church and its primate, a close ally of Putin. According to Politico, officials believe there is an opportunity to move forward with sanctions that had previously been blocked by the government of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

As LF previously reported, Hungary’s new government has stated that it is prepared to support European Union sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, and other individuals who had been protected by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The 21st package of economic sanctions is expected to be presented in June, with final approval anticipated by 15 July.

According to religious affairs expert Aleksandr Soldatov, although the European Union leadership has not officially announced the planned inclusion of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 21st sanctions package, reports in leading media outlets have caused concern for the 79 year old patriarch.

As LF previously reported, the name of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has been included in the draft of the new European Union sanctions package. The official list of individuals expected to face restrictions has not been published. However, three diplomats confirmed to Euronews that Kirill is on the list. Within the European Union, the patriarch is accused of spreading revisionist propaganda intended to justify the war in Ukraine.

According to LF, the European Union has placed Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea, Tikhon Shevkunov, on its sanctions list. This is stated in a decision of the Council of the European Union. Shevkunov is widely described as “Putin’s confessor” and as a likely successor to Kirill.

Balkans specialist Aleksey Pavlov commented for LF on why Bulgaria is choosing Russia and has not joined sanctions against Kirill.