Russian Orthodox Church: Ukraine’s Interior Ministry on Friday (December 15) added the name of Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a strong supporter of Russia’s attack on Kiev, to a ‘wanted list’. Kirill is also accused of promoting war, although Kirill faces no threat from Ukraine. He is also not afraid of arrest because the head of the church is still in Russia.
According to a Reuters report, a post of Kirill’s name on the Ukrainian ministry’s ‘wanted list’ has been shared, showing him dressed as a clerk. The post shows him hiding in a pile of dead bodies before an investigation. The post said he had been “missing” since November 11.
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), also known as the Moscow Patriarchate. It is the largest of more than a dozen autocephalous (self-governing) Eastern Orthodox Christian churches, with nearly 100 million members. Patriarch Kirill is the leader of the Church of Moscow, which claims prerogatives over Eastern Orthodox (Soviet Union) Christian territories except Georgia and Ukraine.
Kirill has been a supporter of the Ukraine war
Patriarch Kirill became head of the Roman Orthodox Church in 2009. Patriarch Kirill is supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through his statements. This war was also connected with religion. In one of his speeches he called the war a “miracle of God”. Kirill has also been a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
What does it mean for Kirill to be wanted in Ukraine?
According to Reuters, the move to put Kirill on the ‘wanted list’ is “purely symbolic as Patriarch Kirill is in Russia and faces no threat of arrest.” This is the latest step in Ukraine’s attempt to reduce the influence of the clergy. Ukraine accuses Kirill of having close ties to Russia and destroying Ukrainian society.
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Tags: Russia, Russia Ukraine war, Ukraine
First published: December 17, 2023, 18:31 IST