On his 78th birthday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow delivered a homily addressing the… “war” and challenges he believes Russia faces “as a Church, as a people, and as a nation.” Without mentioning the ongoing war in Ukraine—initiated by Russia’s invasion 1,000 days ago—the Patriarch instead framed the situation as a response to Russia’s choice to “dare to follow a different path.”
In his remarks, Patriarch Kirill advanced the narrative of Russia as the guardian of “authentic” Christian faith, contrasting it with what he described as the spiritual decline in other nations. “While in other countries people are moving away from Christ, in Russia, our Church is building thousands of new temples,” he said, emphasizing the growth of Orthodox Christianity in his country.
Reflecting on the historical and contemporary challenges, he stated:
“We live, and I must say it again, in difficult times, although never in the history of the Church have there been truly simple times—only the intensity of the problems varies from period to period. As a Church, as a people, and as a nation, we have entered a very special period. Many have turned against us, and I keep asking myself: why have they turned against us? We are like many others; we come from the same European cultural tradition; we are Christians. So why this opposition?”
The Patriarch answered his own question, attributing it to Russia’s choice of an independent path:
“I answer to myself: Russia dared—a daring born of its independence—to follow a different path. Today, even in traditionally Christian countries, people are moving away from Christ, from God, from the Church. Churches are being turned into places of entertainment or other uses, while in our country, the Church is building thousands of new temples! Just think of this number: thousands of people come to Church!”
He went on to highlight what he sees as God’s favor toward Russia during these times:
“When you realize that you are living in such an age, an age of God’s special grace toward our country and people, a deep sense of responsibility, a sense of joy, is born within you. The hope is strengthened that the Lord will remain with us as long as we—each of us individually and as a people—do not depart from His guidance.”
Patriarch Kirill concluded by affirming his commitment to ensuring the spiritual steadfastness of the Russian Orthodox people, emphasizing the importance of preserving their faith and traditions amid current challenges.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
