Patriarch Kirill calls for prayer and to avoid civilian casualties

Moscow, February 24, 2022

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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill issued an address to the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning President Vladimir Putin’s announcement this morning of a “special military operation… for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.”

His statement reads in full:

Your Beatitude! Your Eminences and Graces! Dear fathers, brothers, and sisters!

I take the suffering of people caused by the events taking place with deep and heartfelt pain.

As the Patriarch of All Russia and the primate of a Church whose flock is located in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, I deeply empathize with everyone affected by this tragedy.

I call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.

I appeal to the bishops, pastors, monastics, and laity to provide all possible assistance to all victims, including refugees and people left homeless and without means of livelihood.

The Russian and Ukrainian peoples have a common centuries-old history dating back to the Baptism of Rus’ by Prince St. Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles. I believe that this God-given affinity will help overcome the divisions and disagreements that have arisen that have led to the current conflict.

I call on the entire fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church to offer a special, fervent prayer for the speedy restoration of peace.

May the All-merciful Lord, through the intercession of our Most Pure Lady the Theotokos and all the saints, preserve the Russian, Ukrainian, and other peoples who are spiritually united by our Church!

Statements were also issued today by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, and the hierarchs of the Finnish Orthodox Church.

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2/24/2022

See also
Metropolitan Onuphry appeals for penitential prayer and an end to the “fratricidal war” Metropolitan Onuphry appeals for penitential prayer and an end to the “fratricidal war” Metropolitan Onuphry appeals for penitential prayer and an end to the “fratricidal war” Metropolitan Onuphry appeals for penitential prayer and an end to the “fratricidal war”
Defending the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, we appeal to the President of Russia and ask him to immediately stop the fratricidal war. The Ukrainian and Russian peoples came out of the Dnieper Baptismal font, and the war between these peoples is a repetition of the sin of Cain, who killed his own brother out of envy. Such a war has no justification either from God or from people. Georgian and Romanian Patriarchs, ROCOR, and Finnish hierarchs call for peace in Ukraine Georgian and Romanian Patriarchs, ROCOR, and Finnish hierarchs call for peace in Ukraine Georgian and Romanian Patriarchs, ROCOR, and Finnish hierarchs call for peace in Ukraine Georgian and Romanian Patriarchs, ROCOR, and Finnish hierarchs call for peace in Ukraine
We entreat the Holy Trinity to grant peace to the population of Ukraine and the whole world. Metropolitan Onuphry: War is a grave sin before God Metropolitan Onuphry: War is a grave sin before God Metropolitan Onuphry: War is a grave sin before God Metropolitan Onuphry: War is a grave sin before God
“I call upon the leaders of states and all who can prevent a new war. War is a grave sin before God!” Met. Onuphry emphasized.
Comments
Anna Platte8/9/2022 3:12 pm
As a resident of the Russian Federation, I am grateful to the military for protecting us from the biolabs that were preparing to launch biological weapons on us here.
Louis2/25/2022 10:17 am
Interesting, where was all the vitriol from Orthodox Christians when Ukraine was shelling civilians in Donbass? 14,000 people lost their lives, only about 3000 of them being military. Was Ukraine supposed to kill them all there? Doesn't anyone support those people being saved?
Kris2/25/2022 7:43 am
Stephen,the answer is because you see right through them.
Andrew Sorokowski2/24/2022 8:46 pm
These words are welcome as far as they go. But what is also significant is what is not said. Why say we must avoid only civilian casualties, not military? From a Christian point of view is that a valid distinction? I hope that in his private devotions, His Eminence prays that God may enlighten Vladimir Putin's soul and move him to stop the carnage -- and that in his private meetings with the government, he entreats them to desist from this crime against God and humanity.
Stephen 2/24/2022 7:54 pm
Please elaborate on why His Eminence’s words are a betrayal
Greg2/24/2022 7:24 pm
What a betrayal of Christ and his Christian flock. Anaxios.
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