₦airaland Forum

A Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam has announced it is to split with the Moscow patriarchate, in the first known instance of a western-based church cutting ties over the invasion of Ukraine.

“The clergy unanimously announced that it is no longer possible for them to function within the Moscow patriarchate and provide a spiritually safe environment for our faithful,” the clergy said in a statement posted on its website. “This decision is extremely painful and difficult for all concerned.”

The head of the Russian Orthodox church, Patriarch Kirill, a trusted ally of Vladimir Putin, has declined to condemn the Kremlin’s decision to invade its neighbour, referring to Russia’s opponents in Ukraine as “evil forces”. In a Sunday sermon last week he also said gay pride parades organised in the west were part of the reason for the war in Ukraine.

The statement said the Russian Orthodox parish of Saint Nicholas of Myra had asked the Russian archbishop of the diocese of the Netherlands, who is based in The Hague, to grant the church “canonical dismissal”.

The clergy of the parish said they had requested to join the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Istanbul-based Orthodox branch, seen as a rival to the Russian Orthodox church.

Kirill’s position on the war has led to unease among some Russian Orthodox priests who object to the invasion of a country often referred to as a “brotherly nation” in religious circles.

More than 280 Russian Orthodox priests and church officials from around the world signed an open letter expressing their opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It said “eternal torment” awaited those who gave “murderous orders”.

The Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam, which consists of four priests and a deacon – one of the biggest Russian Orthodox congregations in the Netherlands – has been critical of Russia’s role in the war since the start of the invasion on 24 February.

It said last week it would no longer mention the name of Patriarch Kirill in its liturgy because of his backing for the invasion of Ukraine. “We as the clergy of St Nicholas parish in Amsterdam have expressed our shock at the invasion of Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation … We distance ourselves from Patriarch Kirill’s narrative,” it wrote on its Facebook page.

The statement went against the official policy of the Russian Orthodox church not to use the word “war” and “invasion” to describe Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The Russian priests in Amsterdam told the Dutch outlet ND that Archbishop Elisey of the Netherlands visited their church afterwards, warning that “Moscow was watching their actions closely”.

The Amsterdam church held a closed session on Sunday in which the head of the parish reiterated the decision to break with Moscow. “We asked our former Patriarch Kirill to stop the war. Unfortunately, this did not happen,” he said in a video address posted on the church’s YouTube page.

A Russian member of the church’s choir who was standing outside the church told the Guardian she supported the decision to separate from Moscow. “Once the war started, there was only one way out of this,” she said, asking not to give her name.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also been criticised by other Christian religious leaders, including the head of Patriarchate of Constantinople, Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and Pope Francis, who on Sunday issued his toughest condemnation yet of the invasion, saying the “unacceptable armed aggression” must stop.

Bartholomew, considered to be the spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians, earlier said Putin had committed “a great injustice” by going to war against his “coreligionists” and had “earned the hatred of the whole world”.

In 2018 the Russian Orthodox church cut ties with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, seen as the spiritual authority of the world’s Orthodox Christians, after Bartholomew granted independence to the Ukrainian Orthodox church, which was previously under Moscow’s control.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/13/russian-orthodox-church-in--announces-split-with-moscow

Gentlerespect76:
Where is your proof. The OP is talking about the FT. Even if it's true, do you think it strange for a nation to seek help from a friendly nation? Do you think America can fight Russia alone, for example? Not possible for America alone to fight Russia and win; but America can defeat Russia with the combined strength of NATO. Please it doesn't mean nothing asking help from China, not necessarily a sign of weakness or defeat.

StaffofOrayan:
Go and copy and paste more propaganda

StaffofOrayan:
"Financial Times reported, citing an unnamed US official"

But really how stupiddd can you be to accept this as credible?

tamdun:
They shared Africa like bread but Russia wasn't part of the deal, Russia never invaded Africa, did not take colonise/take slave but some mumu want us to believe west are angels, 2nd pic is the picture of leopold 2nd,that marafuker killed 15m Africans, even worst than Hitler but the west want us to believe Hitler is the worst person in history

Lipscomb:
I know the reason why majority of you neggros support Russia . First you are hoping of going western world to continue the service of your forefathers stop with peanuts they paying you or probably your family member is there ... slave er mentality everywhere.

1stGenAmerican:
This is being reported by The Moscow Times yet you call it Western Media?

Rugaria:
Russia is not annexing Ukraine!
Russia is just trying to exorcise Ukraine of her Nazi demons while delivering her from the Evil spirit of North Atlantic Terrorist organization..

Kingsnairaland:
Can you list the number of countries USA and nato invaded in the last 50 years.

Lipscomb:
Loser please go and find your mates and your sand.

Rugaria:
Willing slave! That's what you're..
Stop dabbling into issues way above your pay grade? You don't even understand the geopolitical mathematics going on! You're naively talking about joining Europe bla bla bla,.. Is joining Europe the reason the Europeans are trying to domicile NATO missile systems near The Russian borders? Is that why the west was organizing a series of biological laboratories in Ukraine? Is that why NATO is encircling Russia!? Be calm thoo.... The dolts in Kiev would be bombed out of their rat holes in some days time and the rest of you over brainwashed mutants, whose heads are perpetually stuck in the white mans behind will learn one or two from that!

Rugaria:
Lots of Africans have been mentally colonized by The CNN and The BBC.
They now sprout all sorts nonsense that you wonder if they ever make use of their own brain given to them by God..

Kingsnairaland:
Russia NEVER had black slaves nor did Russia create a market to trade black people. Russia NEVER participated in the Berlin conference to share Africa like some piece of goat meat. Russia NEVER colonised, underdeveloped and looted Africa's resources. Russia NEVER enabled a safety net for African leaders to hide stolen funds, use these stolen funds to develop itself and then grant the same funds back to Africa as loans. Russia never invaded and destabilized any African country Those who did the aforementioned are the ones pushing the narrative that "Russia" has become the Boogeyman... Those who colonized and for about 100 years refused to share their technology with Africa want Africa to like those they like and hate those they hate. Nah! Never again! If Russia is the Boogeyman, then the west the devil himself �

God bless putin God bless mother Russia.

Lipscomb:
Any Africa country supporting western world against Russia such country are stupid.today I went back to read Berlin conference I realized that Soviet union weren't there. Berlin conference of 1884–1885 which also called Congo or west Africa conference is where this useless western world divided Africa resources and share it among themselves.

Gentlerespect76:
All lies, keep spreading it until finally Russia removes the Ukrainian president then you realize that what Western media made you believe was a lie.

anonymous1759:
Lies lies lies. Assad has regained more Territories in Syria only outskirts are not in his :Pcontrol that’s why he’s still president. NATO are interested in Syria you’re lying . They wanted to install their puppet but With the help of PUTIN Assad his standing tall. Enough with your Economic buulshit. Iran , North Koreans are still living. Heaven has not fallen and will not fall .
You guys resort to Bad economy as a cold comfort .

olatade:
If Putin enters Kyiv, he has won the war. If the Ukrainians preserve Kyiv, they are the ones who have won the war. Kyiv is the key to this war. Make Kyiv the new Stalingrad.

bakar007:
We don't care about his personal life or opinions. But how did the clown get such wealth

Ojiofor:
So did NATO succeed in Syria?
Assad is still standing.
Russia is not complaining rather my comment is for those of you expecting a quick victory from Russia mockingly to know that it isn't easy when other super powers get involved in a conflict.

Ojiofor:
NATO can only hit back if Russia attack a NATO member or supply line inside NATO member state but once the convoy enter Ukraine they are game for Russia to attack.

tamdun:
Don't even go there man, if people start posting pics of what US did in Iraq, Vietnam etc or what Isreal did and still doing in Palestine...

bakar007:
We hope one day the western media will explain how the clown is worth $1.6B. the clown sold Ukrainians, in the end he's Cashing out big death or alive .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0DT2OH6QD4

Ojiofor:
Russia can hit them once they enter Ukrainian territory.

Ojiofor:
You mean Ukraine that is supported and armed by 30 member NATO states plus Australia?
A defeat of Ukraine means a defeat to NATO because they fighting a proxy with Russia.