State Duma deputy: ROC is one of the most effective institutions of state

Alexander Borodai. Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube channel "Materik TV".

Russian State Duma deputy Alexander Borodai commented for "Materik TV" on the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the state authorities at the World Russian People's Council.

When asked by a journalist whether the state is separate from the Church in Russia today, Borodai replied that it is but only on paper.

"Today the state is formally separated from the Church, but in reality, the Church is getting closer and closer to the state and is becoming one of the most effective social institutions of the state," Borodai said.

He also commented on the words of Patriarch Kirill that people who do not go to church cannot consider themselves Russians in full.

According to Borodai, the "non-Orthodoxy" of such Russians "stems from their distrust of the church hierarchy."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the ROC bishop did not rule out that they would "forgive" UOC clerics who "repent".

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