Monitoring Desk
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Saturday applauded the Russian Orthodox Church for backing Moscow’s forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message produced to rally people behind his modern Russia vision.
The Russian Presidency issued Putin’s message after the Russian leader participated in an Orthodox Christmas Eve service on his own inside a Kremlin cathedral instead of joining other worshippers in a public celebration.
In his message, published on the Kremlin website with an image of him standing before religious icons, Putin made it clear he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilizing force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and Western countries over Ukraine and other regional issues.
Putin acknowledges Orthodox Church contributions
“It is deeply gratifying to acknowledge the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in uniting the society, preserving our historical memory, strengthening the institution of family, and educating youth,” said Putin.
“Church organizations prioritize… supporting our troops participating in the special military operation (in Ukraine). Such huge, complex, and truly selfless work deserves sincere appreciation and respect.”
On Friday, Russian President Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire for the celebrations; however, Kyiv rejected it as Moscow’s ploy to take time and regroup, and Ukrainian and Russian forces exchanged artillery fire following the announcement.
Several Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, but the Russian Orthodox Church’s support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine has angered several Ukrainian Orthodox believers and splintered the global Orthodox Church.
Of 260 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, about 100 million are in Russia itself, and some of those abroad are in unity with Moscow.
Others are strongly opposed, however, and reject Moscow’s assertion that its February 24 invasion last year was an essential pre-emptive strike to defend its own security and that of Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Ukraine has about 30 million Orthodox believers, divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and two other Orthodox Churches, one of which is the autocephalous, or independent, Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In a service on Friday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow criticized Ukraine for cracking down on the branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow.
