ROC rep: Patriarch’s words on forgiveness of soldiers’ sins cause confusion

Metropolitan John of Dubna, in a declaration signed by the hierarchs of the Archdiocese of the Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition in Western Europe, expressed "a deep concern" with the words of Patriarch Kirill's sermon. The text of the declaration is published on the website of the Archdiocese. 

The bishop explained that the reference was to a sermon which spoke about "a metaphysical struggle for the right to stand on the side of light, on the side of God's truth" and thus justified the military intervention in Ukraine. 

Metropolitan John then appealed to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and urged him to "do everything possible to put an end to this terrible war which is dividing the world and sowing death and destruction".

The statement also refers to a sermon in which Patriarch Kirill said that "if someone remains faithful to his calling and dies while performing his military duty, he is undoubtedly performing an act tantamount to sacrifice ... and this sacrifice washes away all the sins that man has committed" (sermon of September 25, 2022).

According to the Metropolitan of Dubna, these words of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church were received with great pain and confusion. 

As reported, the Archdiocese of the Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition in Western Europe called on Patriarch Kirill to condemn the war.

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