Posted on 03/04/2022 12:55:05 PM PST by AdmSmith
In an unusual move, more than 150 Russian Orthodox clerics have called for an immediate stop to the ongoing war in Ukraine in an open letter issued on March 1.
At least 176 Orthodox clerics said that they "respect the freedom of any person given to him or her by God," adding that the people of Ukraine "must make their own choices by themselves, not at the point of assault rifles and without pressure from either West or East." The letter says the clerics “bewail” the suffering that has been “undeservingly imposed on our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.”
It is very rare for such a large number of religious clerics of the Orthodox Church to openly challenge President Vladimir Putin's government. In recent years, the Russian Orthodox Church and its leader, Patriarch Kirill, who did not sign the letter, have fully supported Putin's policies.
"We call on all opposing sides for a dialogue because there is no other alternative to violence,” the letter says. “Only an ability to hear the other side can give us hope to get out of the abyss our countries were thrown into several days ago. Let yourself and us all enter the Easter Lent in the spirit of faith and love. Stop the war."
There was no comment or other reaction from Patriarch Kirill or from Russian officials.
The letter makes references to "judgment day” and “eternal suffering,” saying nothing on Earth can prevent that judgment.
“We remind that Christ's blood shed by the Savior for the world's life will be taken in the celebration of the Communion by those who gives murderous orders, not as life, but as eternal suffering.”
Putin’s propaganda isn’t persuading the millions of good people in Russia.
Americans need to know that and drop the Russophobia.
Please add to the Orthodox ping.
Agree.
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
The Russian savages need to leave.
A few of the Putin fan boys posted how St Vlad was the guardian of the Orthodox church.
“Putin’s propaganda isn’t persuading the millions of good people in Russia.”
What’s “Let’s Go, Brutin!” in Russian and Cyrillic?
Yeah...like all of the former Soviet states are all cuddly with the Russians...they hate Russians for very good reasons.
They get their talking points daily. Fun to watch.
Soon Putin will be like Hitler in the final weeks before the end, isolated all alone down in some bunker, just a few fanatical devoted stooges at his side.
Putin has gone well out of his way to identify Orthodoxy with Russian patriotism. This is gonna leave a mark ...
“Putin’s propaganda isn’t persuading the millions of good people in Russia.”
Euronews had a piece today with a series of interviews in what looked like the Severny District of Moscow. A prevailing theme among those interviewed was the denial that Russia was invading Ukraine. Most of these people seemed to have no knowledge of the war in Ukraine.
One younger person called for peace.
A girl with Kool-Aid hair objected to the war.
A 40-ish lady supported the invasion and was adamantly pro-Putin.
A much older lady was saying unkind (profane) things about Putin and I found her quite funny.
But most denied that there was a war going on.
I found this interesting.
That is very interesting, and it means problems for Putin.
You can’t keep a major war a secret from your population for very long.
He was searching for an identity for his kidnapping of the country and found something in the archives
Well, there you have it.
Putin is SUPPOSED to be an Orthodox Christian. I remember reading of his conversion a few years back.
Again SUPPOSED to be an Orthodox Christian.
By their works you will know them.
Пошли, Брутин!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.