Has Moscow Patriarch Kirill Given The Greenlight To Russian President Putin On The Use Of Nuclear Weapons?

President Putin and Patriarch Kirill have enjoyed a close relationship for years [Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via Reuters]  

IBTimes: Did Patriarch Kirill Hint At Russia Using Nuclear Weapons? Claims Country's Existence Under Threat 

* Russia's Patriarch Kirill said the Armed Forces should not be "mechanical" 

* Russia's military doctrine allows use of nuclear weapons when the country's "existence is under threat" 

* Russia "fully reaffirms" its commitment to avoid nuclear war, according to foreign ministry 

Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, warned the public that their country's existence is under threat. 

Kirill made the statement after the consecration of the temple of the National Guard in Balashikha, Moscow, on Sunday. The priest called for intensified prayers "for the authorities and the Armed Forces," claiming growing threats against Russia. 

 He added that the army should not be "mechanical". 

"We must not ignore these petitions, especially when people face dangers -- dangers that challenge the very existence of our country," the patriarch said, per Russian news agency Interfax.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Patriarch Kirill declares the very existence of Russia under threat, as set out in Russias nuclear doctrine (Ukrayinska Pravda)  

Update #2: Russian Patriarch Kirill declared threat to very existence of Russia, this is written in nuclear doctrine (Euromaidan Press)  

WNU editor: Religion plays a very important role for a majority of Russians. In particular with the generation that was born after the fall of the Soviet Union. My cousins in Moscow were never religious, but since the start of the war they are going to church every Sunday. They tell me the pews are packed.

That is why Moscow Patriarch Kirill's declaration that the very existence of Russia is now under threat is very concerning. A lot of people get their spiritual guidance from him. Including a lot of people in the Kremlin.

So why the concern over this remark on Russia's existence by a Russian spiritual leader?

Russian nuclear doctrine is very straightforward. Nuclear weapons can only be used if the existence of Russia is under threat, and Moscow Patriarch Kirill just said the country's existence is under threat. 

Moscow Patriarch Kirill is also Putin's personal priest and ally, and my gut tells me that he is probably one of the few people who has Putin's ear. So yes .... we better listen to what Patriarch Kirill is saying.

On a side note. Former Russian President Medvedev is now in the habit of using religion to defend Russia's war in Ukraine .... Russia Fighting 'Sacred' Battle Against Satan, Medvedev Says (RFE). 

One more side note. Canada has banned Moscow Patriarch Kirill from entering Canada. This is the first time that I know of a major spiritual leader being banned from this country.

On a personal note. I am Russian Orthodox. When I was young I was never religious. But that changed when I met Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn at Montreal's main Orthodox church in the east end when I was working for the UN (Solzhenitsyn was living in Vermont at the time, and he would regularly cross the border to go to our church and meet our arch-bishop). Let us just say that meeting him was always a profound experience. And while I was not a fan of his brand of hard-core Russian nationalism , when it came to religion he was a spiritual revelation to me.

The Russian Orthodox Church And The Russian Military Are Working Closely Together

Michael Peck, National Interest: Russia's Next Weapon: A Church

The Russian military plans to build a military church to bolster the spiritual values of its armed forces.

Meet Vladimir Putin's newest weapon: a church.

The Russian military plans to build a military church to bolster the spiritual values of its armed forces. Construction will soon begin of the Main Church of the Armed Forces, to be erected in Patriot Park outside Moscow, according to Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, deputy defense minister and chief of the armed forces’ Main Military-Political Directorate, a new organization responsible for political education of the troops.

The “new church will be one more example of the people’s unity around the idea of patriotism, love, and devotion to our Motherland,” Kartapolov told Russian journalists.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is actually old news. Since the fall of Communism and the breakup of the Soviet Union, the military and the Orthodox church have worked together to have priests within units to provide guidance and (of course) to promote the church .... Russian Military Looks to Recruit More Orthodox Priests (Russian Insider).

What Is The Geopolitical Impact Of The Growing Split Within The Orthodox Church

Image: en.kremlin.ru

Irina du Quenoy, War On The Rocks: Christian Geopolitics and the Ukrainian Ecclesiastical Crisis

It is a cliché that the internal politics of the Orthodox Church are, well, Byzantine. And this current crisis, in which the ostensible bone of contention is the ecclesiastical independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, is no different. Reflecting the complexities of the Orthodox world, the Ukrainian saga cannot be boiled down to a simple narrative with clear angels (freedom-loving Ukrainians fighting for religious and spiritual independence) and villains (an FSB-controlled, Putin-loving Moscow Patriarchate). In what follows, I seek to provide interested observers with a roadmap toward understanding the stakes in this situation.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: First things first .... my religion is Russian Orthodox. The above post .... while long .... is one of the best that I have read so far that explains the division that now exist within the Orthodox Church. But if you want my abbreviated version, here it is. The Orthodox Church is made up of different Orthodox factions .... Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, etc.. In this current dispute we have Ukrainian President Poroshenko .... who is a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church .... influencing Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (a minor church within the Orthodox community) to issue a directive to sever the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. This has significance because the Ukraine government owns the land that these churches are built on, and they can now legally transfer these lands to the Ukraine Orthodox Church (a church that is more closely aligned to the Kiev government's view) .... while causing chaos for all the churches that are aligned to the Russian Orthodox Church. And it does not stop there. Russian President Putin .... a practicing Christian (Russian Orthodox faith), has now stepped in .... Putin Warns Of Consequences Over Orthodox Split (RFE). He even made sure that he was with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church laying flowers at a monument commemorating Russia's National Unity Day this Sunday .... Putin, Patriarch Kirill Lay Flowers On National Unity Day (RFE). What's my prediction for the future .... politics and religion when mixed never produce a satisfactory outcome. Ukrainian President Poroshenko wants a number of wedge issues when Ukrainians go to the polls next year, and he has certainly succeeded in creating one over religion.

The Growing Role Of The Russian Orthodox Church In Russia

Patriarch Kirill is said to enjoy a close relationship with Medvedev (left) and Putin (center)

DW: Russia returns cathedral to Orthodox Church


The largest church in Saint Petersburg, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, is to be transferred from Russia's museum holdings into the hands of the Orthodox Church. The decision has caused protests and is not an isolated case.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral is a "must" for tourists. It is the largest and most famous church in Saint Petersburg, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnificent building, with its highly visible golden dome, attracted some 3.8 million visitors in 2016. However, these days the cathedral is at the center of a fight in the Russian cultural metropolis; which also happens to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: First things first .... a disclaimer .... I am Russian Orthodox. The role of the Russian orthodox church in Russia has always been under-reported in the West .... but it has always played a critical role in Russian society .... even when the Communists were in power. The church is also enjoying a rebirth today .... its pews are always full, and as a voting bloc .... if a Russian politician does not get an endorsement, his chances of winning are nil. Putin knows this .... hence the close ties with the church, and why he goes out of his way to always cultivate his ties with the church leadership .... including giving this cathedral in Saint Petersburg to the church. On a side note .... the two other institutions that are untouchable in Russia today is the government/military/bureaucracy, and land owners who in the past would have been part of the nobility. The Communists came to power 100 years ago .... and now the system that they despised and thought they had destroyed has returned more stronger than ever .... there is a message there somewhere.

Orthodox Christians Celebrate Easter

Orthodox Christians across the world celebrate Easter. https://t.co/AIjLL3I8sj

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 1, 2016

Update: ‘Holiest day of the year’: Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter worldwide (RT)

WNU Editor: Yup .... it is Russian Orthodox Easter today. And being Russian Orhodox means blogging will be light today as I work to prepare a small feast for family and friends later today.

Today Is Orthodox Christmas

WNU Editor: Even though it is Orthodox Christmas, the war continues in Ukraine .... Three soldiers killed as Ukraine marks Orthodox Christmas (Reuters)

More News On Orthodox Christmas Celebrations

Putin and Poroshenko join Orthodox Christmas celebrations – in pictures -- The Guardian
Orthodox celebrations in Ukraine as Christmas spirit sparks a longing for peace -- Euronews
Russians mark less than merry Orthodox Christmas amid rouble fears -- The Guardian
Putin Wishes Orthodox Christians a Merry Christmas -- Sputnik
Putin congratulates Russians on Christmas -- ITAR-TASS
Putin, Patriarch Kirill Kick Off Orthodox Christmas Celebrations -- Moscow Times
Putin visits shelter for Ukrainians fleeing conflict on Orthodox Christmas -- AFP
Orthodox Christian World Celebrates Christmas -- VOA
Ethiopian Christians Celebrate Christmas -- Tadias
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in Gaza Strip -- Arab Daily News
Orthodox Christmas 2015: How Christian communities around the world celebrate 'Old Christmas Day' -- IBTimes

WNU Editor: For those who may not know .... I am Russian Orthodox .... and yes .... I do celebrate this Christmas. We had a feast last night .... and having another one today. So blogging will be light .... but fear not ... today's "Military and Intelligence News Briefs" and "World News Briefs" will be posted later (17:00 EST).

The Role Of The Russian Orthodox Church In Aiding Putin

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill arrive for the meeting with Russian Orthodox church bishops in Moscow February 1, 2013. Credit: REUTERS/Sergei Gunyeev/Ria Novosti/Kremlin/Files

How The Russian Orthodox Church Answers Putin's Prayers In Ukraine -- Gabriela Baczynska and Tom Heneghan, Reuters

(Reuters) - After weeks of defying international pleas to free eight European officials they had captured in May, pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine released them unexpectedly in June following a public appeal by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

The role Kirill's resurgent church played in the release of the monitors, who were from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), sheds light on how a close cooperation between the state and the church in Russia is now playing out in Ukraine.

What the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) presents as its humanitarian mission in east Ukraine, Western diplomats see as a pattern of cooperation in which the church is acting as a "soft power" ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Read more ....

My Comment: First things first .... a disclaimer .... I am Russian Orthodox.

When it comes to election time .... Russian President Putin's base of support comes from those who work for the government/military/veterans, rural voters, pensioners, and .... not to be underestimated .... the Russian Orthodox Church. In fact .... for the past thousand years the Russian Orthodox Church has always played a major role in Russian life .... even during Communist rule. And like all institutions .... they have used their influence to influence Russian politics, and Russian politicians have always catered to them for their support. Putin has been a masterd at this .... but so has the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On a side not .... a little bit of personal Russian history .... sometime in the mid 1970s (during the height of Communist rule in the Soviet Union) I went with my mother to visit the arch-bishop of Leningrad. My mother is a very devout Christian (unlike my father who had no patience for religion) .... and while I do not remember the reasons why we went, I always remember the bishop's house. It was massive, but next door to where he lived was the mayor of Leningrad .... they were close neighbors and friends. I also remember that the arch-bishops home was at least the double the size of the mayor's home who was also the region's top Communist boss .... this was to me a clear sign (to me) on who had the greater authority.

Leader Of Kiev Orthodox Church Claims Putin Is Under The 'Influence of Satan'

Patriarch Filaret (R), the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kiev, takes part in a festive ceremony marking the 1,026th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus', in Kiev, July 28, 2014. (REUTERS/VALENTYN OGIRENKO)

Putin Is Under Satan's Influence: Leader Of Kiev Orthodox Church -- Reuters

KIEV (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has fallen under the spell of Satan and faces eternal damnation unless he repents, a top Ukrainian clergyman said on Saturday in an unusually blunt statement that squarely blamed the Russian leader for the war in Ukraine.

Patriarch Filaret heads the Kiev Patriarchate, a branch of the Orthodox Church that broke away from Moscow in 1992 after the fall of the Soviet Union and the declaration of an independent Ukraine.

His church, a rival of the Moscow Patriarchate which is closely linked to Putin, strongly supports Ukrainian nationhood and the Kiev government's struggle to defeat pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Read more ....

More News On The Leader Of Kiev Orthodox Church Claiming That Putin Is Under The 'Influence of Satan'

Vladimir Putin 'possessed by Satan and faces eternal damnation' -- The Telegraph
Ukrainian Orthodox leader says Putin is possessed by Satan -- New York Post
Ukrainian Patriarch Compares Putin To Cain, The Bible’s First Murderer -- Inquisitr
Putin's Possessed by Satan, Says Ukrainian Clergyman -- The Wire

My Comment: First things first .... a disclaimer .... my religion is Russian Orthodox.

Religion has always played an important role in Russia/Ukraine/eastern Europe .... even when the Communists were in power. In today's Russia .... religion has become doubly important .... and has probably become the most important part of Putin's political base. The fact that the Russian Orthodox church got actively involved in supporting the pro-Russian separatists should not surprise anyone ... in eastern Europe religion and politics has always walk hand in hand. As to the leader of the Kiev Orthodox Church .... he had to react .... from his perspective he sees the Russian Church taking his followers.

Update: Here is a good New York Times post on the involvement of the Russian Orthodox Church in supporting the rebellion .... Evidence Grows of Russian Orthodox Clergy’s Aiding Ukraine Rebels (New York Times).

Orthodox Christians Across The World Are Celebrating Christmas.

Georgians light candles marking the Orthodox Christmas at Trinity Cathedral complex in Tbilisi, Georgia, late Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. The Eastern Orthodox Churches mark the occasion according to the old calendar, two weeks after Western denominations. (Sergey Ponomarev/AP Photo)

From Euronews:

At Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife were among the worshippers. The midnight service, attended by more than 3,000 people, was led by Metropolitan Kirill, the interim head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In Serbia, branches have been burned on bonfires as part of the Christmas tradition.

The religious holiday is observed on January 7 by churches that follow the Julian calendar.

Read more ....