Hello brothers and sisters!
''Come to your senses, madmen, and cease your bloody reprisals. For what you are doing is not only cruel; it is truly the work of Satan, for which you are subject to the fires of Gehenna in the future life—the afterlife—and to a terrible curse in this present life—this earthly life. By the authority given to us by God, we forbid you to approach the Mysteries of Christ; we anathematize you, even if you still bear Christian names and even if by birth you belong to the Orthodox Church. We also conjure all of you, faithful children of the Orthodox Church of Christ, not to enter into any communion with such monsters of the human race.''
But here's what I wanted to draw your attention to, something many don't even think about. Father Archimandrite Konstantin, whom many of you probably know, the late editor of the magazine "Orthodox Rus'," a profound Christian mind. Of all the communist "achievements," he considered the most terrifying of all: communism's creation of its own false church, the Soviet Church, which it foisted on the unfortunate people in place of the true Church, which sank into the catacombs, vanishing from the surface. Don't think I'm exaggerating, or that Father Konstantin was exaggerating. There was once an All-Russian Church Council, in 1918. At this Council, the entire All-Russian Church, led by its Primate, Patriarch Tikhon, anathematized and excommunicated both the atheists and godless individuals themselves and all those who would collaborate with them. This anathema has never been lifted; it was imposed by legitimate authority, and it remains in full force. But in 1927, Metropolitan Sergius, then head of the Russian Church, issued a terrifying and shameful declaration in which, on behalf of the entire Church, he declared that the joys of Soviet power were our joys, and its sorrows our sorrows, declaring full cooperation with the state authorities. In other words, what happened was what we read in the prayer before confession, when the priest, praying to the Lord God for the penitent, lists among their sins that they "fell under their own anathema." They fell under their own anathema. So here, too, Metropolitan Sergius and the entire hierarchy who agreed with him fell under their own anathema, because it was pronounced against both the God-fighters and their collaborators, and now the Church has declared its collaboration with them. They fell under their own anathema... Moreover, when this shameful declaration was issued, the Catacomb, True Orthodox Church separated from the official Soviet false church. Going underground, as those who were in the Catacomb Church told us, it anathematized the official Soviet church once again. Consequently, this "church" has been anathematized twice by the legitimate Church authority. We are taught by the Apostle Paul and the Church in general that the Church is the Body of Christ, that in the Church abides the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His grace and Truth, which are in Him and with Him. But tell me, can a believing mind, reason, and heart admit that Christ is in this organization that collaborates with his satanic enemies, praises them, blesses them, and even seems to walk arm in arm with them? Of course, it's unthinkable. Therefore, I say that my opinion: our Church, so to speak, has never expressed this in the form of a general discussion and condemnation, but I am convinced that in this very Soviet false church there is no grace, and cannot be, because it has departed from its fidelity to Christ.And Christ the Savior is not there and cannot be. This is my deep conviction. I don't force it on anyone, but I speak frankly about what I think.
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| From the soviet newspaper ''Atheist'' |
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| Professor Ivan Andreev |
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| Archimandrite Constantine Zaitsev |
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Lastly I would like to share a text written by a priest who was in prison from more than 2 years for his antiwar position, Fr Ioann Kurmoyarov who wrote a letter to a German journalist debunking her false narratives about the war in Ukraine:
My open letter to Gabriele Krone-Schmalz: “There can be no greater shame for a German than supporting fascist youths!”
Hello, dear Ms. Gabriele Krone-Schmalz! This is Hieromonk Ioann (Kurmoyarov), a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR (A)) and Doctor of Theology, writing to you. A few days ago, I watched your video on YouTube, in which you criticized Western politicians for their biased attitude toward Russia and their failure to understand the reasons that prompted the Russian leadership to launch the Special Military Operation in Ukraine. I confess to you that I am deeply outraged by what you said in that video. Therefore, I felt it necessary to convey my position on this matter to you. Please forgive me for this untimely response. As far as I understand, you recorded your video (or posted a fragment of your speech) over a year ago. However, at that time, I was in prison and therefore physically unable to respond to you. This opportunity arose only after my release from prison, when, for security reasons, I left the territory of the Russian Federation.
I believe I have the right to oppose you, as from the very beginning of the SVO (Special Military Operation), I condemned this criminal aggression, for which I was arrested on July 7, 2022, and sentenced to three years in a general regime penal colony. At the same time, the human rights organization ‘’Memorial’’ recognized me as a political prisoner. As I already mentioned, after serving my sentence, I was forced to leave the Russian Federation. However, even in exile, I continue my anti-war and peacekeeping activities. In particular, I believe it is necessary to convey to the European community the truth about what is happening in modern Russia.
I’m sure you’ll also be interested to hear the opinion of an eyewitness who was able to see from within the system how the Russian justice system works and, more generally, what the Russian state is like today. Moreover, in your speech, you yourself stated that before drawing any conclusions, we first need to understand everything.
So, based on what I heard in your speech, I can say that you haven’t fully grasped the situation, and therefore have drawn erroneous, hasty conclusions about what’s happening, incorrectly answering your own question: Is Russia pursuing imperialist goals or is it concerned with creating a workable security architecture? You were certainly right when you said that to answer this question, we need to understand the interests of the parties to the conflict, based on the facts. However, in analyzing the situation, you made two fundamental errors that led to false conclusions:
Firstly, in analyzing the situation, you relied exclusively on the facts cited by the Russian side and completely ignored the arguments of its opponents.
Secondly, you forgot to analyze (or chose not to) the Ukrainian side’s arguments. As a result, your arguments seemed one-sided and overly biased. So let’s now analyze your arguments more thoroughly and try to give them an objective assessment. So:
1. In your opinion, the interests of the current Russian leadership include ensuring peace within the country and at its borders, and achieving cooperation and security guarantees from the West, which are necessary for the continuation of the reform process and the further development of the Russian state. Fine, so be it, but then answer me the following questions:
Who threatened Russia in the 21st century, and when? You may not be aware, but within the country, the Russian government has completely and utterly destroyed the opposition and effectively banned any manifestation of public protest. Opposition leaders were either killed (Navalny, Nemtsov, Starovoitova, etc.) or forced to flee abroad. The government has destroyed all independent media, taking complete control of the information sphere. An independent judicial system has also ceased to exist (if you don’t believe me, I can tell you more about this separately), as a result of which people receive hefty prison sentences for any criticism of the government or disagreement with the conduct of the SVO. Laws in Russia exist only for the “rabble,” while the authorities have no laws, so they easily violate the law and the Constitution. In other words, we are dealing with an authoritarian regime, similar to Stalin’s, in which the supreme ruler and his cronies wield unlimited, unchecked power in the country. This means that they are not in any danger inside the country.
2. But then, perhaps, the threat from Russia was lurking at the country’s borders? Perhaps a multi-million-strong NATO army was stationed near Smolensk in 1922, ready to invade Russia? Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But you were talking about Ukraine, which was amassing troops on the border with Donbas and Crimea. After all, it was precisely this troop concentration that you considered a real threat to the Russian Federation.
If you were to carefully compare the military and economic potential of Russia and Ukraine, their ability to mobilize their populations and wage a protracted, full-scale war, you would easily see that Ukraine has no chance of success in a war with Russia, as it is vastly inferior to Russia in every respect. The latter could simply maintain an appropriate military force in Crimea and Donbas, thereby resolving the issue of guarantees for these territories.
I’ll go further: today, no country in the world would even dream of attacking Russia, as it possesses the world’s second-largest nuclear potential. This is precisely what Kremlin propagandists proclaim day and night, on all Russian television channels. Any country in the world that encroaches on the integrity of the Russian state will be immediately attacked by the nuclear triad. What does this mean? It means that Russia’s NUCLEAR TRIAD is a guarantee of its inviolability. And this means that Russia’s security on its borders is completely guaranteed.
So the question arises: why did the Kremlin leadership need to start this war in a situation where the Russian state was not threatened either internally or externally? When economic ties with the West were established? When gas and oil (and much more) flowed to the West (as well as to China and Turkey), and similar flows of gas and oil, dollars, and euros flowed back into Russian banks? Perhaps this money should have been invested in the country’s development, making it an advanced, developed, and prosperous state in every respect? But for some reason, the Russian leadership decided to throw money away, investing in a senseless, bloody, unnecessary war that yields no dividends or any benefit whatsoever? The war is in its fourth year, trillions of dollars have been wasted, hundreds of thousands of Russians have died, and hundreds of thousands more have become disabled, and all this for what? To annex four more regions? Or is Russia running out of land? Perhaps it was to protect the Russian-speaking population of Donbas? Then why was it necessary to destroy that same Donbas to the ground? After all, it still needs to be rebuilt. And that would again require colossal investments. Couldn’t a simpler, cheaper, and more humane approach have been possible, if the Russian leadership had genuinely cared about the Russians in Ukraine?
I must confess that until recently I lived in Ukraine and was a citizen of that country. In 2018, I decided to move to my homeland, Russia. And I did so without the slightest difficulty under the compatriot resettlement program. Why couldn’t they have resettled every Russian-speaking citizen who wanted to come to Russia? Russia isn’t Israel, or even Germany. If they wanted, they could resettle all of China in Russia and still have room left over. This could have given a boost to economic development. If the Russian leadership had even a shred of common sense, we could have simply flooded the world with our goods and technologies and finally kicked the oil and gas habit. Most developed and less developed countries would have lined up, eager to befriend such a Russia. But no, the most senseless, most ineffective solution of all was chosen.
3. Now let’s look at the goals the Russian leadership set for itself when justifying the need for a strategic military operation in Ukraine: the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, its non-aligned status, and the prevention of NATO expansion. And what came of it?
After Finland and Sweden joined NATO, Russia’s border with the organization expanded by more than a thousand kilometers. And it turns out that no one in Russia is concerned about this? The same is true of the threat of intelligence operations against Russia, which NATO allegedly could conduct from Ukrainian territory. But such operations could also be conducted from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, and the Baltic states, which have long been NATO members. But why does no one in Russia care about this? Look at Russia’s shared border with China; maybe they should be more concerned about Chinese intelligence?
You’re saying the Kremlin is demanding non-aligned status for Ukraine? But at the start of the Special Military Operation, Ukraine already had non-aligned status. Furthermore, if the Russian leadership is so concerned about the accession of countries bordering Russia to NATO, then why was there no reaction to Finland and Sweden joining NATO?
“Nothing came of the demilitarization either. Moreover, Ukraine experienced a militarization unprecedented in its history. As for denazification, never before have Russians been so hated in Ukraine as they were after the start of the Second World War.”
So, all the measures taken by the Russian leadership to achieve the goals of the SVO have had the opposite effect. Now the question: can you call people reasonable who set goals and then achieve the opposite result? What would you call a builder who set out to build a house, but failed to do so and instead destroyed all the surrounding buildings? Isn’t that a rhetorical question? So why do you consider the actions of the Russian leadership reasonable and appropriate?
So, from all this, it’s clear that there has never been, and still is, no threat to Russia, either from NATO or, especially, from Ukraine. Therefore, all talk of such threats is completely groundless. This is where the main question arises: what was the reason for the Special Military Operation in Ukraine?
This is a very big question, the answer to which could fill an entire book. But I’ll try to answer briefly, in outline.
Today, power in Russia is in the hands of a terrorist group known collectively as the FSB. This structure stands above the state, waging terror against both its own citizens and neighboring states. To be clear, the FSB is the successor to the Soviet government’s punitive agency, which at one time bore various names, from the Cheka to the KGB. This agency now controls all government structures in the Russian Federation. Today, no senior official in Russia, including judges, can be appointed without FSB approval.
You’re mistaken about the main thing: you view modern Russia as a state governed by the rule of law whose goal is to improve the well-being and security of its citizens. However, in reality, the FSB has transformed Russia into a fascist state whose goal is to expand living space and engage in mass terror against all dissent. I think you should become more familiar with the works of such ideologists of the modern Kremlin regime as A. Dugin, A. Prokhanov, and others. For example, already in the 1990s, A. Dugin (sometimes called the “Kremlin’s gray cardinal”) was actively promoting the idea of ”national Bolshevism,” which later evolved into a neo-Eurasian philosophy. And although Dugin’s views have undergone some transformation over time, their foundation has always been a belief in the special, sacramental calling (“special path”) of “Russian civilization” in opposition to the godless civilization of the Anglo-Saxon world. One of the fundamental narratives of Dugin’s worldview is the notion of Russians as the most important ethnic group for fulfilling the civilizational mission of forming a Eurasian empire. This is essentially analogous to Nazi racial theory. Naturally, the United States and the Anglo-Saxon, Western world as a whole are declared the main threat to the existence of this empire. Dugin considers dictatorship and a totalitarian state structure with complete ideological control over society to be the most preferable form of future imperial rule.
Dugin and other ideologists of the current Kremlin regime have very subtly captured the imperial sentiments of the contemporary Russian Cheka-GB elite, which in the 1990s suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the collapse of the USSR (very reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s PTSD, which he acquired following Germany’s defeat in World War I). Indeed, today’s Kremlin ideologists cannot imagine any future for Russia other than imperialism. They firmly believe that Russia has always been and must remain an empire, and the loss of imperialism is perceived as a loss of Russia itself. This is perhaps why the current Kremlin leadership considers the collapse of the Soviet Union the greatest tragedy of the 20th century (as Putin has repeatedly stated in his speeches). In their view, this event called into question the very future of the Russian state. This post-traumatic stress disorder, a result of the collapse of the USSR, defines the Russian leadership’s line of conduct today, the main slogan of which is: the Empire must be restored at all costs! Anyone who disagrees with this geopolitical position is declared an enemy of the Russian state. The saddest thing is that religion is also drawn into the orbit of this imperial ideology. I am saying that the current leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate fully supports the criminal aggression against Ukraine, which runs counter to the Gospel commandments of peacemaking, love, and brotherhood among people.
Let me reiterate: today, the heirs of a terrorist organization that carried out repressions against both their own and neighboring peoples have come to power in Russia. This is confirmed, for example, by the mass unveiling of monuments to Stalin and Dzerzhinsky in Russia (FSB officers have a particular fondness for the latter). For example, a six-meter-tall monument to Dzerzhinsky, the bloody executioner and ideologist of the “Red Terror,” during which millions of people were exterminated, was recently unveiled in central Omsk. It’s like erecting a monument to Ernst Röhm in Germany.
Apparently you’re not very familiar with Russian history? But if you’d delved even a little deeper, you’d know that violence isn’t such a terrible crime for the security officers who rule modern Russia. For example, in Russia today, murder typically carries a prison sentence of 7-9 years. An anti-war post online can carry 10-12 years. And donating to a Western or Ukrainian human rights organization, not to mention aiding the Ukrainian Armed Forces, can be punished even more. In other words, murder is a lesser crime for them than dissenting from the government. Do you know what the main narrative promoted by Russian propaganda and the Moscow Patriarchate is today? It’s the narrative that killing in war is not a sin! And all soldiers who die in the name of Russian victory are considered saints. Doesn’t this, by any chance, remind you of the ideology of certain Islamic terrorist organizations?
You must understand that the current Russian leadership considers not only Ukraine, but also the Baltic states, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Central Asian countries of the post-Soviet space, to be its ancestral territories (territories of the “Russian World—Holy Russia”). Therefore, the primary goal of the SVO in Ukraine is to restore the Russian Empire within the borders of the former USSR and impose its agenda on Western countries. And they will stop at nothing to achieve their criminal goals. You speak of them as civilized people, not realizing that before you are bloodthirsty maniacs, ready to destroy millions of people to achieve their illusory goals.
The saddest thing is that you, a German woman of the post-war generation, failed to recognize in modern Russia a fascist state led by the Führer of the Russian nation. For me, this was the greatest disappointment I experienced after watching your video (which is why I decided to write to you). In my naiveté, I always thought that Germans, after World War II, would have developed a “genetic” sensitivity to fascism. Apparently, I was gravely mistaken. If Germans fail to understand what happened in Russia and what led to the SVO, then I fear hard times await us all.
4. Now it’s time to talk about Ukraine’s interests, which you forgot to mention in your video. Did you ask Ukrainians why they resist and don’t want to be under the control of Putin and his cronies?
Tell me, what was a country supposed to do that found itself neighboring a terrorist fascist state? Of course, it had to take care of its own security. I admit, I’m far from idealizing modern Ukraine, a country where I’ve lived half my life. But I completely understand and support the Ukrainians who decided to break free from Russia’s influence and join the Western community. That’s why, on two Maidan protests, they protested against their country being governed by Putin’s protégé, the criminal Yanukovych (I think you’re aware of his criminal record), as well as against the pro-Kremlin system of government itself. And they had every right, without regard for the Kremlin, to join any unions and organizations they wanted and to independently decide their own security matters. Why, tell me, should Putin and his entourage decide what to do, who to befriend, and how Russia’s neighbors should live? I’ll say it again: No one is threatening Russia, nor is anyone planning to do so, simply because threatening Russia is a very dangerous undertaking. But Russia also has no right to interfere in the affairs of other states, even if those states were once part of the Russian Empire or the USSR. Russia itself has plenty of territories that weren’t originally its own. These include Crimea (which only became part of Russia at the end of the 18th century, while the Crimean Khanate lasted for over 300 years), Siberia, the Caucasus, the Urals, Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg), and the Kuril Islands. Perhaps then we should return these territories to their former owners? But surely you must understand that this logic of redividing the world is the logic of World War III? Then why aren’t you bothered by Putin’s fascist logic?
You’re saying the US and Europe are responsible for starting this war? That’s an unthinkable lie, and I don’t understand why you’re spreading it. If the US and Europe are responsible for anything to Ukraine, it’s for failing to admit it to NATO in time and protecting it from Russian aggression. Yet that was, and remains, the only true way to end this war. I’ll put it this way: I’m a pacifist by conviction, but I can’t bring myself to condemn Ukrainians defending their country from a rabid maniac. Ultimately, Ukraine had every right to restore order on its own territory, meaning Crimea and Donbas. But no one has, nor should they have, the right to destroy the European security architecture by invading another country. Today, there are no protests in the West regarding Russia’s special operation in Chechnya in the 1990s. So why are you denying the Ukrainian authorities the same right? Because they didn’t take into account the wishes of the Russian-speaking population? Did Russia really take these wishes into account when it completely destroyed towns and villages in eastern Ukraine? In my opinion, Ukraine could have resolved the problem of the Russian-speaking population through civilized means, with the help of the European community, without Russia’s interference in its internal affairs.
5. Now, regarding the negotiations in Istanbul and the subsequent refusal of the Ukrainian side to participate in these negotiations.
Let’s start with the fact that Ukraine was right to refuse these negotiations. One of Russia’s conditions was a significant reduction in the Ukrainian army, which would have jeopardized the very existence of the Ukrainian state. After all, in that case, Russia could have renewed its aggression and completely conquered Ukraine at any moment. Or don’t you know how Putin so confidently lies to both his own people and the international community? He continues to lie, constantly postponing peace talks because he has absolutely no interest in them. In this sense, what’s surprising isn’t Putin’s position, whose lies have become so commonplace, but the position of Western leaders, who constantly fall for his tricks.
Putin lied about the Istanbul talks, and for some reason you believed him? After all, according to Putin’s version (which you so confidently convey), Boris Johnson convinced Zelenskyy to reject Russia’s demands on April 9. But the retreat of Russian troops began long before that. On April 1, Ukrainian troops entered Bucha, where they saw evidence of Russian military crimes. If this was a planned withdrawal, then why was it necessary to kill civilians? Of course, Putin wants to save face when he claims it was a planned troop withdrawal, in accordance with the agreements reached in Istanbul. In fact, the retreat of the Russian army began long before Boris Johnson supposedly dissuaded Zelenskyy. On March 25, Russian troops were pushed back from Kyiv and were at risk of encirclement by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They also made no progress in their offensive on Kharkiv, while Ukrainian troops launched a counteroffensive toward Kherson. On March 27, the Ukrainian side announced a tactical counteroffensive in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson oblasts. In the first half of April, Ukrainian forces in the northern sector completely liberated the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Sumy oblasts.
Was the situation exactly the same with the Ukrainian offensive in the fall of 2022? Why did Russian troops retreat there, given that their retreat wasn’t the result of the Istanbul “agreements”? Why did they leave Kherson, Izyum, and so on? I think you’ve placed too much faith in Russian propaganda and the omnipotence of the Putin regime. Unfortunately, I must disappoint you: it’s a colossus with feet of clay, which is why they failed to achieve any of their goals.
6. And finally: Are you unhappy with NATO’s determination to weaken Russia? But I’m sure you wouldn’t object to criminals being deprived of the opportunity to commit crimes through isolation from society. I don’t think you understand the criminal nature of Putin’s fascist regime. As long as it remains in power, as long as it has the resources to wage war, it will be a threat not only to its neighbors, but to the entire civilized world. Only by weakening Russia (primarily economically) can we gain any hope for peaceful coexistence with this state in the future, as well as hope for future democratic reforms in this country. Today, Russia is a dangerous beast, a bear hunting and seeking prey. But sometimes bears are tamed, placed in zoos, or even turned into circus performers. Therefore, this beast’s fangs must be pulled out and it must be muzzled. What do you propose? Consider the interests of the predator? Then be prepared to constantly make ritual sacrifices to him, in the form of destroyed cities, thousands of dead civilians and soldiers, trillions in military spending, and instability in Europe. I think even a child should understand that this is not a solution. Remember what happened to Chamberlain’s “peace” initiatives, when he trusted Hitler and tried to accommodate Nazi interests? Isn’t that the lesson we need to remember now?
In fact, Russia’s true interests (not those of Putin and his accomplices) lie in a swift end to this aggression, the collapse of Putin’s authoritarian, fascist regime, the democratization, denazification, and demilitarization of Russian society, and repentance for the crimes committed against Ukrainians. It’s not about constantly pressuring its neighbors with imaginary security guarantees. Don’t you find it funny to see a situation like that, where a raging monster demands security guarantees from a defenseless child?
As I’ve already said, in my view, there’s only one way to save Ukraine and peace in Europe today: immediately admit Ukraine to NATO and deploy its combined forces on its territory. And, in addition, impose the harshest sanctions on the Russian economy. In the meantime, we should be grateful to Ukraine for protecting the European community from this bloody monster, which demands ever more victims.
In conclusion, I will say the following: I don’t know what motivates you or why you spoke out in support of Russia, but I ask you to understand the most important thing: today, anyone who supports Russian aggression or in any way attempts to justify the actions of the Russian leadership is an accomplice to the crimes of the Russian authorities. Can you really remain completely indifferent to the suffering and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, including a huge number of women, children, and the elderly? Therefore, I ask you to stop appealing to sympathy for Russia’s interests. Remember those whom Russian shahids and bombs kill in Ukrainian cities every day. Call on the Russian leadership to immediately end this criminal aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. And call on Western leaders to support Ukraine as strongly as possible and provide guarantees for its security. Only then will your public initiatives be meaningful. Otherwise, you yourself become an accomplice to the crimes committed by the Russian leadership and the Russian military. I believe there should be no greater shame for a German than supporting fascist youths, no matter what their nationality. Consider this, dear Ms. Gabriele Krone-Schmalz.
Hieromonk Ioann (Kurmoyarov)
I hope that this post will convince you that Russia is a satanic totalitarian state.
For more info please visit my Facebook profile (Marcus Orthodoxus) and also my Telegram channel (Truth About Russia)
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News from Russia (Regularly updated)
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra suffered damage in a Russian attack. (24 January 2026)
On the night of January 24, 2026, during a massive Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, structures within the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were damaged. The last time war-related damage to the Lavra was recorded was during World War II.
According to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine (https://mincult.gov.ua/news/vsesvitnya-spadshhyna-yunesko-pid-atakoyu-rosiyany-poshkodyly-obyekty-naczionalnogo-zapovidnyka-kyyevo-pecherska-lavra/), building No. 66 (the entrance to the Far Caves complex) and building No. 67, the Church of the Conception of St. Anne, were damaged, with the façade damaged. A visual inspection revealed broken doors and window frames, crumbling and cracked plaster, and mechanical damage to the hardware.
An initial inspection was conducted by reserve staff, and an investigative team from the National Police of Ukraine worked on-site, drawing up a report. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Tetyana Berezhnaya stated that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 1,640 cultural heritage sites and 2,446 cultural infrastructure facilities have been damaged, and the attack on the Lavra constitutes an "attack on world heritage."
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Military Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church: Weapons are not enough—prayer is needed against Ukrainian "Satanist presidents." (26 January 2026)
On January 26, 2026, a plenary session on "Interaction between the Church and the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies" was held at the Central House of the Russian Army as part of the XXXIV International Christmas Educational Readings. Metropolitan Kirill (Pokrovsky) of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, head of the Synodal Department for Interaction with the Army and Law Enforcement Agencies, delivered the keynote address (https://t.me/voennyotdel/13389).
He linked the causes of the "SVO" to a "spiritual catastrophe," which, in his opinion, began with the Union of Brest in 1596—when "part of the elite and hierarchy of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania betrayed the faith of their fathers." Therefore, the current war, as the Metropolitan asserts, is being waged not against people, but against "spiritual hosts of evil in high places."
The Metropolitan stated that there is already unity and harmony in the trenches and "there is no discord between the peoples of Russia," and he sees a spiritual awakening in the army. He cited statistics: 2,000 military chaplains have visited the "SVO" zone, more than 150 priests are with soldiers daily, 250,000 soldiers received communion in 2025, and more than 52,000 people were baptized during the war.
At the same time, he lamented that much depends on volunteer priests (there were 640 last year), while there is no systematic approach: the army currently has approximately 300 full-time positions. According to him, the army is critically short of full-time military chaplains, and this is "the metaphysics of victory, the core without which even modern weapons may prove powerless."
"We need to have increasingly sophisticated weapons." It exists, and it's improving. What can be done against the Satanist Zelensky, the Satanist terrorist Budanov, the Satanist Poroshenko, and almost all Ukrainian presidents—Satanists? … This Satanism cannot be eradicated because prayer is needed."
In conclusion, Metropolitan Kirill called for unity between the front and the home front:
"We have no right to live by inertia while blood is being shed. If the army becomes Christ's army, then Russia must become a temple, not a marketplace. For victory is granted to the people whose faith in God is clearest and strongest."
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Yesterday,(26 January 2026) Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova was awarded the Archangel Michael, 1st degree, badge of honor. This is an award from the Synodal Department for Relations with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, and it was presented by the department's chairman, Metropolitan Kirill (Pokrovsky) of Stavropol.
Zakharova spoke at the XXXIV International Christmas Readings conference, "The Defense of Orthodoxy and the Russian World—the Key to Russia's Transformation," held at the Central House of the Russian Army.
Everything converged at one point. Where the front is, not only borders are defended, but also spiritual foundations. Principles are tested on the ground—by sword, fire, deed, and spirit. These traditional values were not invented here and now, not tailored to the current situation. These are the principles upon which humanity was formed, cutting off evil and sin," Zakharova said. Also speaking were Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Yuri Ponomarev, Governor of the Jewish Autonomous Region Maria Kostyuk, whose son died "in the North Military District," and Senator Anna Kocherova from the Belgorod Region. The Minister of Defense's greeting was delivered by the Deputy Chief of the Defense Ministry. Oleg Veselkov, Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.
The meeting began with the singing of "O Heavenly King," the Russian national anthem (https://t.me/orthozombies/1472), and the song "Do Russians Want War?" ("which has become the manifesto of our people" (https://t.me/voennyotdel/13384)) – all performed by the Sretensky Monastery choir, trained by Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov).
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The FSB will be given the right to shut down all types of communications in Russia, from mobile internet to landline phones.
The State Duma is currently considering relevant amendments to the Law on Communications.
Under these amendments, operators will be required to suspend all communications services at the request of security officials "to protect citizens and ensure state security." However, the companies will be exempt from liability and compensation to customers.
Lawyers note that the law's wording allows for the shutdown of not only mobile internet but any type of communications—voice, messaging, images, and other means of transmitting information.
The concept of "security threat" is not defined in the law.
Source: http://meduza.io/news/2026/01/27/gosduma-odobrila-zakonoproekt-obyazyvayuschiy-operatorov-otklyuchat-lyubuyu-svyaz-dazhe-pochtu-po-zaprosu-fsb-pri-ugrozah-bezopasnosti-chto-eto-za-ugrozy-neyasno
Sons of those who murdered the Prophets
RUSSIA: Orthodox priest tortured, prosecuted for "overt disrespect for society"
On 27 November, National Guard, Investigative Committee, and FSB officers raided an independent Orthodox church in Krasnodar Region. "They'd rummaged through the sanctuary, barbarously turning everything upside down", a church member noted. They arrested the 34-year-old Fr Iona Sigida and held him overnight. Investigators beat him, shocked him with a stun gun, and forcibly shaved him. Officials did not respond to Forum 18's questions about the torture. He is facing criminal charges for posts on the church website. Slavyansk City Court placed him under house arrest until January.
https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=3015
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Persecution of Christians by Religious and State Authorities for Anti-war Stance or Support of Ukraine in Defence from Aggression
REMINDER:
Here is a good list of the persecutions by Russian and Belarusian authorities of Christians of various denominations.
Persecution of Christians by Religious and State Authorities for Anti-war Stance or Support of Ukraine in Defence from Aggression
Also see the site in general ''Christians against war-thou shalt not kill, it contains tons of evidence of the persecutions, deaths, pro war and antiwar statements by priests, declarations, priests that participate on the frontlines, that died in the war and much more!
https://shaltnotkill-info.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp
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An analysis of the ROCOR statement that was released in June 2025
English translation below:
By Bishop Andrei of Yarraville☦️
Here is the original statement:
https://synod.com/synod/eng2025/20250605_ensynodstatement.html
Russian:🇷🇺
По поводу Заявления Синода РПЦЗ
Недавно произошло нечто новое и неожиданное, что, естественно, вызвало интерес у многих. А именно, Синод РПЦЗ (МП) опубликовал «Заявление касательно возвращения идеологических подходов ХХ века в России», содержащее критику нынешней российской власти. Синод РПЦЗ осмелился “возвысить голос”, протестуя против наметившегося в России “возврата ко властвовавшей в прошлом веке лживой и богопротивной идеологии”.
Как примеры такого возврата Синод указывает на восстановление в Москве памятников Сталину и Дзержинскому, а также на происходящую в последнее время де-реабилитацию осуждённых в сталинскую эпоху. В заключение Синод напоминает, что РПЦЗ всегда была «свободной от связи с каким бы то ни было государством… бесстрашно провозглашая простую и чистую Истину Святого Православия».
Действительно, РПЦЗ была свободной, прежде чем она объединилась с МП, которая не только связана с российской государственной властью, но и полностью подконтрольна и послушна этой власти. Потому и стало для всех такой неожиданностью это «Заявление» Синода, что после объединения с МП, духовенство РПЦЗ сразу же сделалось молчаливым и послушным, и никогда не высказывалось с открытой критикой российских властей. Впрочем, и нынешнее их «Заявление» отнюдь не является «бесстрашным провозглашением простой и чистой Истины», потому что оно непоследовательно, неполно и, очевидно, боязливо.
В восстановлении памятников Сталину и Дзержинскому Синод видит “тенденцию обелить преступления богоборческой власти ХХ-го века”. Несомненно, это так. Но, к сожалению, Синод умолчал о том, что нынешний российский режим является прямым продолжением той же самой «богоборческой власти ХХ-го века»; что преступная организация, созданная Сталиным и Дзержинским, живет и процветает и является стержнем и опорой нынешней российской власти; что этот режим есть по существу мафиозная группировка, захватившая власть в России; что этот преступный режим уже четвёртый год ведёт кровопролитную, разрушительную и при этом совершенно бесцельную войну с православным народом Украины; что из-за этого погибли и продолжают гибнуть сотни тысяч людей как украинцев, так и русских.
Необходимо было бы указать и на то, что руководство МП не только открыто поддерживает эту братоубийственную войну, но и сакрализирует ее, принуждая всех священников читать молитву, в которой этой войне придаётся священный характер.
Также Синод в своем «Заявлении» указывает на возмутительные факты отмены реабилитации некоторых лиц, несправедливо осужденных в сталинские годы и реабилитированных после смерти Сталина. Хорошо, что Синод «возвысил голос» в защиту невиновных, которые после временной реабилитации были снова объявлены преступниками. Несомненно, эти факты указывают на ужесточение режима в России. Но в конце концов, эти люди давно умерли.
Гораздо важнее было бы возвысить голос в защиту тех тысяч невинно осужденных, которые сейчас томятся в российских тюрьмах в пыточных условиях. Российские суды приговаривают к длительным тюремным срокам за малейшее проявление несогласия с политикой властей, за частный разговор, за пост в фейсбуке. Синоду РПЦЗ нужно было бы возвысить голос и в защиту священников МП, отказавшихся читать кощунственную патриаршую молитву и из-за того лишенных сана церковным судом, как нарушителей канонов.
Синод РПЦЗ в упор не видит слона в комнате, «оцеживает комара, а верблюда поглощает» (Мат. 23, 24), протестует против «возвращения идеологических подходов» прошлого, но молчит о преступлениях нынешней власти, которые совершаются у всех на глазах.
Церковь – носительница Истины, потому что в ней обитает Дух Истины. Церковь – это «соль земли». Если в Церкви не будет слышно слова истины, то его уже нигде не будет слышно. «Если же соль потеряет силу, то чем сделаешь ее соленою? Она уже ни к чему негодна, как разве выбросить ее вон на попрание людям» (Мат. 5,13)
Еп. Андрей
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🇬🇧 English:
On the Statement of the ROCOR Synod
Recently, something new and unexpected has happened, which, of course, aroused the interest of many. Namely, the Synod of ROCOR (MP) published the “Statement by the Synod of Bishops on the renewal of 20th-century ideologies in Russia,” which contains criticism of the current Russian government. The ROCOR Synod dared to “raise up its voice,” protesting against the emerging in Russia “a return to the false, God-opposing ideology that prevailed in the last century.”
As examples of such a return, the Synod points to the restoration of monuments to Stalin and Dzerzhinsky in Moscow, as well as the recent de-rehabilitation of those condemned in the Stalin era. In conclusion, the Synod reminds us that the Church Abroad has always been “free of connections to any State… and fearlessly proclaimed the simple and pure Truth of Holy Orthodoxy.”
Indeed, the ROCOR was free before its unification with the MP, which is not only connected to the Russian state but is also totally controlled and subservient to state authorities. That is why this “Statement” by the ROCOR Synod came as such a surprise to everyone, that after the union with the MP, the clergy of the ROCOR immediately became silent and submissive and never openly criticised the Russian authorities. However, their present “Statement” is by no means a “fearless proclamation of a simple and pure Truth”, because it is inconsistent, incomplete and, obviously, timid.
In the restoration of monuments to Stalin and Dzerzhinsky, the Synod sees “a rising tendency to whitewash the crimes of the God-fighting regime of the twentieth century.” Undoubtedly, this is true. But, sadly, the Synod kept silent about the fact that the current Russian regime is a direct continuation of the same “God-fighting regime of the twentieth century”; that the criminal organisation created by Stalin and Dzerzhinsky is alive and well and is the backbone of the current Russian state; that this regime is essentially a mafia group that has seized power in Russia; that this criminal regime has been waging a bloody, destructive and at the same time completely aimless war against the Orthodox people of Ukraine for the fourth year; that hundreds of thousands of people, both Ukrainians and Russians, have died and continue to die because of this.
It would also be necessary to point out that the leadership of the MP not only openly supports this fratricidal war, but also sacralises it, forcing all priests to read a prayer in which this war is given a sacred character.
The Synod also in its “Statement” points to the outrageous facts of the cancellation of the rehabilitation of some persons unjustly convicted during the Stalin years and rehabilitated after Stalin’s death. It is good that the Synod “raised its voice” in defence of the innocent, who, after temporary rehabilitation, were again declared criminals. Undoubtedly, these facts point to the tightening of the regime in Russia. But after all, these people died a long time ago.
It would be far more important to raise their voices in defence of the thousands of innocent people who are now suffering in Russian prisons under torture conditions. Russian courts sentence to long prison terms for the slightest manifestation of disagreement with the policy of the authorities, for a private conversation, for a post on Facebook. The ROCOR Synod should also raise its voice in defence of the MP priests who refused to read the Patriarch’s sacrilegious prayer and were defrocked by the church court because of this, as violators of the canons.
The ROCOR Synod does not see the elephant in the room; it “strains the gnat and devours the camel” (Matthew 23:24); it protests against “the renewal of the ideologies” of the past, but is silent about the crimes of the current regime, which are being committed before everyone’s eyes.
The Church is the bearer of the Truth, because the Spirit of Truth abides in her. The Church is the “salt of the earth”. If the word of truth is not heard in the Church, it will not be heard anywhere. “But if the salt loses its savour, how will you make it salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13)
Bishop Andrei
Source: https://auroca.org/%d0%bf%d0%be-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b4%d1%83-%d0%b7%d0%b0%d1%8f%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%8f-%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%b7-on-the-statement-of-the-rocor-s/
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On February 24, 2022, the war unleashed by the Kremlin in eastern Ukraine in 2014 escalated into a full-scale invasion. The largest military conflict in Europe since World War II had begun. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as of the end of January 2026, civilian casualties in Ukraine numbered more than 15,000 killed and over 40,000 wounded. Millions have become refugees. Prosperous cities have been reduced to rubble. The "descendants of the victors" are freezing civilians with strikes on heating plants, just as German troops did to their ancestors who remained in besieged Leningrad, breaking their spirit. Images of overcrowded evacuation trains under fire and children hiding in the subway from air raids recalled the most horrific chapters in the history of the Great Patriotic War.
Ukrainian identity is denied, and the occupied zones are subject to forced Russification. "Ukraine is madness. When a Russian goes crazy, he becomes Ukrainian," writes Alexander Dugin, one of Russia's leading war ideologists, unafraid of being convicted of abasement of human dignity based on nationality (Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code). A priest, who is fighting in the Russian army, tells local residents in the occupied territories: "We didn't come for you, but to liberate you." The Russian Gauleiter of Zaporizhzhia boasts of his policy toward "liberated" Ukrainians in the occupied territories:
"People were behaving extremely harshly, so we had to find a way to take these people, these families—and they were large families. So we gave them the opportunity to leave. Some were forcibly evicted: they were brought to the line, read the eviction order, given a bottle of water, and sent away... We beat them—and beat them harshly. And, unfortunately, sometimes we had to make extremely harsh decisions, which I won't talk about for now."
The descriptions of torture, humiliation, and murder this man keeps silent about, as well as the memories of survivors, are horrifying. Russian fascism, in its hatred of all things Ukrainian, has morphed into Nazism.
No one has discredited the Russian army as much as it has itself. Generations of Russians yet to be born will have to labor long and hard to heal the wounds inflicted today. "By their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:16), says the Gospel. The fruits of the "Russian world" are grief, destruction, and death.
The war with Ukraine has also become a crime against its own people. While talking about "saving" them, more than a million people have been killed, wounded, and missing. Another million have fled the country, fleeing political repression and forced indoctrination. Freedoms of thought, speech, assembly, and free dissemination of information guaranteed by the Constitution have been abolished, and military censorship has been introduced in violation of the Constitution. Russian authorities have classified demographic data to prevent anyone from learning about the catastrophic consequences of their policies. Instead of "demilitarizing" Ukraine, the country has demilitarized itself, forced to resort to the partial mobilization of civilians and the use of foreign mercenaries. An irreparable blow has been dealt to the economy, science, and culture. Life in the regions bordering Ukraine has become unbearable. Propaganda not only justifies the war but also dehumanizes Ukrainians, suppressing empathy and compassion for its victims. Contrary to reality, official Russian media brazenly claim that "the civilian population of Ukraine is in no danger" (Interfax). Discussion of civilian casualties is prohibited under penalty of imprisonment, and the number of political prisoners is growing.
Unprecedented cruelty has been unleashed. The slogan "Where have you been for eight years" has become a license to commit any evil, any violence, and not just against Ukrainians. Torture has been effectively legalized in Russian prisons. "Patriotic" Telegram channels are horrified by the unprecedentedly brutal torture and "zeroing out" of life sentences suffered by victims of commanders' extortion. The "Heroes of the SVO," declared by Vladimir Putin to be the "new elite," have already committed hundreds of murders across Russia.
The only beneficiaries of the war in Russia are arms manufacturers and the Putin regime itself. The declared result of the war is "consolidation around the president"—the cementing of the dictatorship. The war is vital for a small group of people to "tighten the screws" and accuse those who "rock the boat" of threatening national security.
Particularly outrageous is the position of the official leaders of the Moscow Patriarchate, who, despite the assertion in the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" that "church structures cannot assist the state in waging an aggressive foreign war," have declared the invasion of Ukraine a "holy war." Allegedly for the benefit of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and in the name of its "liberation," its dioceses are being seized, churches are being destroyed during the fighting, and Orthodox clergy and laity—both civilians and military—are being killed.
All Orthodox priests on Russian soil are being forced to publicly support the war by reciting a "prayer for Holy Rus'" for the victory of Putin's army, under penalty of suspension from service and defrocking. Patriarch Kirill has promised forgiveness of the sins of all those killed in the fighting, including murderers, child molesters, and cannibals released from Russian prisons in exchange for their willingness to once again take up arms against Ukrainians defending their country. The Patriarch has declared dissenters "traitors to the Motherland, with all the legal consequences that entails." Not a single civilian victim of the conflict on the Ukrainian side has earned his condolences, unlike the man who declared in the Kremlin: "We will defeat everyone, kill everyone, rob everyone we need, and everything will be as we love it." According to the Patriarch, the man who made this statement "tried to live with sincere faith and trust in the all-wise Providence of God."
Today, two days after Forgiveness Sunday, we must also speak about forgiveness. The experience of post-war Europe tells us that forgiveness and reconciliation are possible under two conditions: a fair trial of criminals and the truth about their crimes. As long as the truth is declared "fake" and "discredited," as long as villains are declared outstanding politicians, heroes, and martyrs, the state's suicidal vector will be directed toward moral, cultural, and economic degradation.
We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the liberation of occupied territories, prisoners of war and political prisoners, reparations and the trial of those guilty of planning, preparing, unleashing and waging an aggressive war (Article 353 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and crimes accompanying the war.
We call for increased prayer, including before icons that preserve the memory of military aggression—the Vladimir Icon, stolen by Andrei Bogolyubsky from the Kievan lands, and the Novgorod Icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos, whose face still bears the mark of an arrow: "All the Russian regiments began to advance on the city. And arrows flew toward the city like pouring rain. Then, by God's grace, the icon turned its face toward the city, and the archbishop saw tears flowing from it" (Tale of the Battle of the Novgorodians with the Suzdalians).
We also call upon the help of the saints who were not afraid to raise their voices against violence and injustice: Saint Philip of Moscow, Saint Maximus the Greek, one of the most prominent "foreign agents" in the history of the Russian Church, and the holy anti-fascist martyrs of the 20th century: Mother Maria Skobtsova, Archimandrite Grigory Peradze, and Alexander Shmorell, for whom there was no place in the horrific "temple of the armed forces."
We also call on all Orthodox Churches and the entire global Christian community to give an adequate assessment of the false teachings about the “holy war”, as was done by the Conference of European Churches in December 2025.
We also call upon you not to be afraid to spread the word of truth, not to turn a blind eye to lies and lawlessness, and to help the unfortunate and persecuted, bringing closer the long-awaited and just world.
Board of the NGO "Peace to All"
priest Valerian Dunin-Barkovsky
Archpriest Andrei Kordochkin
musician Pavel Fakhrtdinov
Source: https://www.mir-vsem.info/post/mir-vsem-appeal