Source on Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

“Today, when Moscow Patriarch Kirill openly supports Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we, the priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, have decided to appeal to the Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches against Patriarch Kirill. Our main accusations: Kirill preaches the doctrine of the “Russian world”, which does not correspond to Orthodox teachings and should be condemned as heresy; Kirill committed moral crimes, blessing the war against Ukraine and fully supporting the aggressive actions of Russian troops in Ukraine.”

“We, the priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in these tragic days, when the brutal war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine continues, consider it our pastoral duty to address the fullness of World Orthodoxy.”

“On February 24, 2022, Russian troops invaded the territory of the sovereign Ukrainian state without declaring war. The military aggression has been going on for more than a month. Russian troops are systematically destroying not only military infrastructure, but also housing estates, civilian enterprises, schools, hospitals, theaters, etc. Ukraine’s economy is suffering heavy losses. But our greatest sorrow is that thousands of civilians have died during the war. The actions of the Russian army around Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Gostomel, Vorzel, and especially Mariupol and Bucha have obvious signs of genocide against the Ukrainian people and are causing outrage around the world.”

“Moreover, since the beginning of the war, Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly made public statements that contained de facto support for the Russian Federation’s aggressive actions against Ukraine. On March 13, 2022, during the liturgy in the Church of Christ the Savior, Patriarch Kirill presented the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Russian Federation VV Zolotov with an icon of the Mother of God and gave his blessing to the employees of this state military organization. In his speech of thanks, VV Zolotov directly said that the troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation are taking an active part in the war waged by Russia against Ukraine today. At the same time, he called the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Nazis.” After hearing Zolotov’s words, the patriarch did not object. Patriarch Kirill’s blessing of the Russian National Guard was an unequivocal endorsement of the war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.”

“Despite the fact that Patriarch Kirill for many years in his public statements (including during visits to Ukraine) stated that he considers the Orthodox Christians of Ukraine to be his flock for which he is responsible, today he directly blesses the physical destruction of this flock by Russians troops.”

“The actions of Patriarch Kirill caused mass outrage among the clergy and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. At least fifteen dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have already officially announced that they will stop commemorating Patriarch Kirill during Church services. We know that in many other dioceses the ruling bishops gave verbal permission to the clergy not to mention the name of Patriarch Cyril. Thus, bishops, priests, and ordinary parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expressed their unequivocal distrust of Patriarch Kirill.”

“We clearly state that it is impossible for us to continue to be in any form of canonical subordination to the Moscow Patriarch. This is what our Christian conscience dictates.”

“We see the brutal actions of the Russian army against the Ukrainian people, which are actually approved by Patriarch Kirill. As pastors of the Church, and simply as Christians, we have always been, are, and will be with our people, with those who suffer and need help. We fully support the Ukrainian state authorities and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in their fight against the aggressor.”

“At the same time, Patriarch Kirill (as well as numerous bishops and priests in Russia) directly violate the norms of the Fundamentals of the Social Doctrine. In particular, this document clearly states that the Church cannot provide assistance to the state and cooperate with it if the state is waging an aggressive foreign war (III). Today, the actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine are nothing but an aggressive foreign war. This fact is recognized by the whole world community. In particular, on March 2, 2022, 141 countries supported the resolution of the UN General Assembly condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. But both Patriarch Kirill and the numerous clergy in Russia continue to support the aggressive foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Thus, the position of the Moscow Patriarchate on the war against Ukraine does not correspond to the norms of Christian morality, or even to its own normative documents.”

“In 2021, in an interview on the occasion of his 75th birthday, Patriarch Kirill said: “For me, as the Patriarch of All Russia, there is no division into nations and states, but the flock of the Russian Orthodox Church” (http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5863267.html). Although Patriarch Kirill has always stressed that he does not question the existing state borders, he nevertheless stated that these borders “create unnecessary obstacles between the peoples of the Russian world” (http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/928446.html ).”