1.The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra caught fire in Kyiv after a Russian attack.
On the night of June 15, Russia launched a massive air strike on Ukraine. According to rescuers, four people were killed and 25 injured in Kyiv.
Following the attack, a fire broke out on the roof of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The fire covered approximately 800 square meters.
The Art Arsenal museum complex also caught fire, engulfing approximately 1,000 square meters. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated (https://t.me/Ukraine_MFA/9309) that Kyiv will initiate procedures within UNESCO and other international mechanisms due to the attack on the heritage site.
In case readers will start to blame NATO and CIA for this, here is what the Russian Department of Defense itself states:
The Russian Ministry of Defense commented (https://t.me/mod_russia/64548) on the massive airstrikes in Ukraine on the night of June 15, which included damage to the Dormition Cathedral (https://t.me/shaltnotkill/13219) of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Dnipro (https://t.me/shaltnotkill/13221).
The Russian ministry stated that "a massive strike was launched using long-range precision-guided air, land, and sea-based weapons and attack drones against defense industry facilities in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as military airfields and territorial procurement centers."
The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that "the strike's objectives were achieved, all designated targets were hit."
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2. It's now official: the Russian Orthodox Church website praises a religion other than Christianity.
On June 13, the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate published (https://patriarchia.ru/article/121649) an article by Alexander Shchipkov, Rector of the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian and Deputy Head of the World Russian People's Council, about the anthem of the Russian Federation.
"The Russian national anthem gives voice to the civil religion of the people. Its codes, like those of traditional religion, enter into the public sphere of the sacred. At the same time, it is also a 'window' through which we observe the many currents and eddies of our national destiny. “On this foundation, we can and should build a course of Russian history,” Shchipkov declares on the ROC website, without even attempting to separate Christianity from secular Russian politics.
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3. The Russian Orthodox Church has called pacifism incompatible with Orthodox teaching and linked it to sects.
Pacifism is incompatible with the teachings of the Orthodox Church and has been present in heretical doctrines at various times, according to materials (https://www.rbc.ru/politics/11/06/2023/6485ba979a794774cd9aa749) for a church court hearing that will examine statements made on the Telegram channel of the banned anti-war priest Ioann Burdin. Burdin was previously fined for discrediting the Russian army after he condemned the war in Ukraine.
The priest's statements, which are alleged to "clearly defame the activities of the highest church authorities" of the Russian Orthodox Church, "undermine the trust of believers," and cause "harm to church unity," are scheduled to be examined at a church court hearing at the Kostroma Diocese headquarters on June 16.
"But even the pacifism with which Priest Burdin attempts to shield himself from the accusations against him is incompatible with the actual teachings of the Orthodox Church, in particular, as set forth in the 'Fundamentals of the Social Concept.' Pacifism has been present in heretical doctrines throughout church history—among the Gnostics, Paulicians, Bogomils, Albigenses, and Tolstoyans—and reveals, like other utopian ideologies, a connection to ancient chiliasm," the court filings state, emphasizing that throughout history, the church has blessed warriors to defend the country. Incidentally, attacking another country is not considered self-defense.
At the same time, the text suggests that Burdin's pacifism is "one-sided" and "imaginary," in which "his anti-Russian political position is clearly visible, which is perceived as unacceptable in our country" and radically at odds with the position of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Comment by Marcus Orthodoxus (author of the blog):
To frame an absolute opposition to war as a heretical innovation ignores the plain text of Christ's teachings in the New Testament. The core of the Gospel of Salvation is built upon a radically non-violent ethic:
The Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Christ does not bless the victorious conquerors, but those who reconcile enemies.
Non-Resistance to Evil: "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:39).
War is evil... Murder... was considered as a grave crime before God.” It opposes propaganda of war/violence and aggressive external war. The court filing selectively quotes while the ROC-MP’s broader support for the Ukraine conflict (including "holy war" rhetoric in some circles) strains against this document.