Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has once again made headlines with his latest statements, this time warning about the rise of “neopagan sentiments” among soldiers in the battle zone in Ukraine. His remarks, in which he referred to these individuals as “weirdos” (“чудики”), have sparked widespread discussion, as he urged the Russian Orthodox Church to step up efforts to counter such trends.
A staunch ally of President Vladimir Putin, Kirill has consistently supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine— a war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. During a recent address, as reported by patriarchia.ru, the Moscow Patriarch stated: “I would like to draw the attention of priests who visit the combat zone to the emergence of neopagan sentiments among some military personnel.”
Without providing further details, he expressed disbelief that in the 21st century, “weirdos” would attempt to revive paganism “on the territory of Holy Russia.”
While the Kremlin insists that the war is a “special military operation” aimed at “denazifying” Ukraine, Kirill has framed the conflict as a cultural and spiritual battle against Western liberal values— particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
The Patriarch called on clergy to “show special initiative” in eradicating any neopagan influence on Russian soldiers, emphasizing the Church’s role in shaping their ideological mindset. He also reiterated his belief in a broader conspiracy, claiming that “the forces opposing Russia” orchestrated the war in Ukraine “to weaken our country and the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.”
Additionally, he accused these forces of attempting to undermine the Russian Church’s authority by supporting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Epifaniy.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
