ROC head on preaching Kingdom of God not patriotism: "First time heard it"
Meeting of the clergy of the Moscow Diocese of the ROC. Photo: patriarchia.ru
On February 11, 2025, during a diocesan assembly of the Moscow Diocese, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, responded to a question posed by Father Alexei Shliapin from Mozhaysk.
Father Alexei expressed his disagreement with the patriotic focus of the ROC, stating: "A priest should lead people to the Kingdom of Heaven, rather than engage in patriotism."
In response, Patriarch Kirill remarked: "How wonderful. This is the first time I’ve heard such a thing. Father, are you by any chance from Western Ukraine?" He then added: "Go sit down and seriously reflect on what you just blurted out."
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Kirill called on Russians to be baptized for the sake of Russia’s invincibility.
Read also
First words and photos after Bishop Arseniy's release published online
The abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, after a year and ten months of imprisonment, offered praise to the Most Holy Theotokos for his release.
In Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, UOC hierarch reads Great Canon near seized church
Bishop Antony performed the Great Penitential Canon together with believers near a closed church in the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC.
His Beatitude reads third part of Great Canon at St Florus Convent
The Primate of the UOC led the Great Compline with the reading of the Penitential Canon at the St. Florus Convent in Kyiv.
UOC lawyer thanks U.S. politicians for Metropolitan Arseniy’s release
Amsterdam gave special mention to Orthodox public and political figures in the United States who spoke out in defense of the UOC hierarch.
82-year-old UGCC nun killed in Brazil
In Brazil’s state of Paraná, a man broke into a UGCC convent and killed 82-year-old Sister Nadiia Havanska. The tragedy has stirred the Ukrainian community.
MP Mazurashu proposes establishing a Bible Day in Ukraine
MP Heorhiy Mazurashu is proposing to add a Bible Day to Ukraine’s list of commemorative dates, without introducing an additional day off.