Russian Patriarch says “weirdos” spreading paganism on Ukraine frontline

Reuters The head of Russia’s powerful Orthodox Church said in remarks published late on Tuesday that “weirdos” were trying to spread paganism in the combat zone in Ukraine and called for efforts to counter attempts to weaken the church’s influence there. Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has been an enthusiastic backer […]
Russia’s Orthodox Patriarch, marking Christmas, says West trying to smother Russia

Reuters The Patriarch of Russia’s Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday that the Western world despised Russia and its “alternative path of civilised development”. Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate Christmas on 7th January, according to the Julian calendar. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas liturgy at the […]
Tajik migrants: Russia’s clampdown on raises economic and security risks

LUCY PAPACHRISTOU and NAZARALI PIRNAZAROV, of Reuters, report on how migrant workers from Central Asia say they are facing growing hostility in Russia…
Pope Francis condemns Ukraine’s ban on Russian Orthodox Church

Vatican City RNS Following the Angelus, his weekly prayer service at the Vatican, on Sunday, Pope Francis criticised Ukraine’s decision to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historically been tied to Russia, saying that Christians should be allowed to pray freely and that churches should not be abolished. “In thinking about the laws recently […]
Religious freedom: Ukraine’s ban targeting Russian-linked faith groups raises concerns

DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports that even some supporters of Ukraine see the ban as an overstep in the name of national security, a violation of religious freedom and a potential risk to continued foreign military aid…
Essay: Religious leaders are playing an important (and unusual) role in Ukraine war

JENNIFER MATHERS, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at how religious leaders in Russia and Ukraine have responded to the conflict…
Essay: Why did Putin visit a tiny Orthodox church in North Korea?

In an article first published on Religion News Service, KATHERINE KELAIDIS, a research fellow at the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, UK, says the presence of a Russian Orthodox Church in Pyongyang is meant to send a powerful message about Russia’s sphere of influence…
Russia says US is responsible for deadly Ukrainian attack on Crimea
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russia said on Sunday that the United States was responsible for a Ukrainian attack on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula with five US-supplied missiles that killed four people, including two children, and injured 151 more. The Russian Defence Ministry said four of the US-delivered Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, equipped with cluster […]
Putin attends Easter service led by head of Russia’s Orthodox Church

Reuters President Vladimir Putin and scores of other Moscow worshippers attended an Easter service on Sunday, led by the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, a staunch supporter of the Russian leader and his war in Ukraine. Putin, in a dark suit, white shirt and a dark red tie, stood in the capital’s main […]
A Russian Orthodox priest who took part in services for Navalny is suspended by the Patriarch

AP The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Chuch has suspended a priest who participated in services for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Dmitry Safronov took part in Navalny’s funeral as well as presiding at the commemoration on 26th March, the 40th day after his death – an important Russian Orthodox tradition. A woman touches a […]