In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community, the Russian Orthodox Church has officially characterized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a ‘Holy War’, pitting the country not only against its neighbor but also framing it as a broader ideological struggle against the West. This decree, issued by the World Russian People’s Council, headed by Patriarch Kirill, seeks to cast the conflict as a spiritual crusade, raising profound concerns about the conflation of religious authority and state militarism.
The document, resulting from a congress convened on March 27-28, unabashedly calls for the extinguishment of Ukrainian independence and the establishment of direct Russian rule. The term ‘Holy War’ is particularly unsettling as it suggests a spiritual or religious justification for the ongoing invasion, with statements claiming that Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine would have their sins “washed away.” Such rhetoric is worryingly reminiscent of language associated with religious extremism.
In the text, Russia is repeatedly referenced, emphasizing the decree’s focus on the state’s earthly interests. Ukraine is framed as an intrinsic part of a larger ‘Russian World’, a concept that has been used to justify Russia’s actions on cultural and spiritual grounds. The document asserts, “The Special Military Operation is a Holy War, in which Russia and its people are defending the single spiritual space of Holy Russia.”
This development follows years of statements by Patriarch Kirill that Ukrainians and Russians are “one nation,” adding a religious dimension to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Ukrainians are actually Russians. The ideological synergy between the church and the Kremlin further positions this war as a sacred mission to prevent the establishment of any “Russophobic political regime hostile to Russia and its people” on Ukrainian territory.
The narrative of a ‘holy war’ signifies a stark departure from previous church doctrines which generally rejected the notion of holy war and stipulated that religious leaders should oppose the government if it issued orders contradictory to Christian principles. According to Antoine Nivière, a professor of Russian civilization, the latest decree represents not just a statement, but a political program at odds with the Russian Church’s social doctrine adopted in 2000.
Such declarations resonate with a long history of messianic tendencies within Russian religious thought, where Russia is often portrayed as the ‘Restrainer’ or ‘katechon,’ tasked with protecting the world from evil, a concept rooted in Orthodox Christian eschatology and medieval Russian ideology.
The gravity of the Russian Orthodox Church’s stance is intensified by the critical juncture at which it comes. As the Russian military faces staunch Ukrainian resistance and employs increasingly brutal tactics, including the bombardment of cities and infrastructure, the ‘holy war’ doctrine seeks to sanctify and motivate further military engagement.
The responses to this declaration have been notable within Ukraine and among global religious communities. Ukrainian religious leaders have united in their condemnation, deeming it antithetical to Christian values and a justification for genocide and war crimes. They call on the world’s religious and ecumenical organizations to vocalize their opposition and support sanctions against the declaration’s proponents. Metropolitan Epiphany of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) has gone as far as to assert that those who support Russia’s aggression “serve not God, but Satan.”
Relevant articles:
– Russian Orthodox Church declares holy war against Ukraine and the West
– Russian Orthodox Church leader declares Ukraine invasion a ‘holy war’, The Christian Post, Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:59:00 GMT
– Theologian: Russian Church goes full Nazi with “holy war” on Ukraine, Euromaidan Press, Fri, 05 Apr 2024 22:05:55 GMT
– Ukrainian Churches unite against Russian ‘Holy War’ declaration, Premier Christian News, Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:55:09 GMT