Moscow Patriarch Cyril I addressed Russia’s war once morest Ukraine for the Orthodox Christmas, Kathpress reports today. “We cannot help but worry regarding today’s war events overshadowing the holy celebration of Christmas,” he writes in his Christmas message, which was traditionally read in all church services on Christmas Eve.
Nevertheless, in the text published in advance, the Patriarch did not oppose the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine. Instead, Cyril I called for “fidelity to our Christian vocation”. It sometimes seems that the good is weak and defenseless and you can do almost nothing yourself. But that’s not true, according to the patriarch. May God have mercy on the peoples of Saint Rus’ and “bless us all with peace,” Cyril said.
The Moscow church leader is an important ally of Putin. Kyrill’s sermons for the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine have caused international outrage for months.
Putin celebrates Orthodox Christmas
On Thursday, Cyril I called for a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this request was granted. Kyiv reacted with surprise at the announcement, observers see the ordered unilateral ceasefire as a cynical propaganda gesture. However, ongoing combat operations were repeatedly reported.
The Russian Defense Ministry today said its armed forces in Ukraine would honor the unilateral ceasefire called in honor of Orthodox Christmas until midnight, despite Ukraine’s rejection of the ceasefire offer.
Putin celebrated the first Orthodox Christmas since his army invaded Ukraine at the Kremlin compound. Photos and footage circulated today by the Russian state media show the 70-year-old standing in the Annunciation Cathedral in the presence of sacristans. The President also thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for its role in society.
