Filaret reasons the war in Donbass as recompense for disbelief
"Why did the Lord let these sufferings happen in the East, and not in the West, where people believe?” Filaret asked the host of the program. “There are many non-believers in the east of Ukraine. And so, people in sufferings turn to God. Thus, the words of Jesus Christ come true: "Blessed are those who have not seen, but believed." But they believed in travails in the face of death."
In his “sermon” in 2014 Filaret spoke up about ”federalisation sin” and the fault of the Donbas population: "One should not think that the population of Donbass is not to blame for these sufferings. They are! And their guilt should be redeemed by suffering and blood. Did they vote in the referendum for federalization? They did! Did they make a sin? They did! This is the consequence of this sin. If they had not sinned, had not voted, this would not have happened then!"
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