The European Parliament has condemned the role of Russian Patriarch Kirill in the war

The European Times (14.04.2022) – https://bit.ly/3JHS6VL – In a resolution on 7 April 2022 about “the increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexei Navalny,” the European Parliament condemned the role of Moscow Patriarch Kirill in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Item 6 of the resolution states:

 

“Condemns the role of Moscow Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, in providing theological cover for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine; praises the courage of the 300 priests of the Russian Orthodox Church who signed a letter condemning the aggression and expressed their grief over the ordeal of the Ukrainian people, calling for an end to the war. “

In parallel, clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate decided to appeal to the Cathedral of the Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches with a lawsuit against the Russian Patriarch Kirill for “committing moral crimes.” Priests of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine demand an international tribunal for the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

The statement of the priests was published by Fr Andrei Pinchuk on his Facebook page. Excerpt:

“Today, when Patriarch Kirill of Moscow frankly supports Russia’s war of conquest against Ukraine, we, the priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, have decided to appeal to the Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches with a lawsuit against Patriarch Kirill.

Our main accusations:

  1. Cyril preaches the doctrine of the Russian world, which does not correspond to Orthodox teaching and should be condemned as heresy;
  2. Kirill committed moral crimes by blessing the war against Ukraine and fully supporting the aggressive actions of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine.

We hope that the Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches will consider our appeal and make its fair decision,” the appeal says.

Further reading about FORB in Russia on HRWF website