Patriarch Kirill's Unwavering Support for Putin's War Efforts

The holy war against Ukraine, the sacrifices endured by Russian soldiers and, above all, the 'salvific' decisions of President Putin who 'has always acted for the good of the people and the Country'. Orthodox Patriarch Kirill is steadfast in his support for the Kremlin's war action. During the swearing-in of the Russian president for his fifth term, the Head of the Orthodox Church blessed him again in a thanksgiving mass in the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Kirill dwelled on the example of Saint Alexander Nevsky (1221-1263) who bravely defended Russia on the battlefield, thereby attributing a sort of divine legitimacy to Putin himself: 'May God help you to continue the service that God himself has entrusted you with love for the Homeland and with courage'. The Patriarch also added that it is always a 'great grace of God when the head of the Russian state is a faithful Orthodox who is not ashamed of his faith'. He then emphasized that for many Russians, Vladimir Vladimirovich is not seen only as a political leader 'but as a very friendly, intelligent, and warm-hearted person'. The Church, he assured, 'will continue to pray for the President: that the Lord helps him every day of his life to lead the great homeland, the Holy Rus, which is going through a difficult phase of its history, with dignity'. The mention of the Russkyi Mir refers to the idea of the empire that once extended including Ukraine and Belarus. During the rite, Putin lit a candle and then knelt down and kissed the Patriarch three times. In the end, the Patriarch handed him a 17th-century icon of the Virgin of Vladimir. 'You have everything you need to perform this great service for the Homeland for a long time and successfully'.