Russian Patriarch Kirill must resign

28
Mar

Jesus tells us that no-one can serve two masters; he will love one and despise the other. Patriarch Kirill has disgraced himself by aligning with Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. In so doing, he despises the Christ he promised to follow. He should resign.

 

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” Matthew, 6:24.

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Moscow Patriarch Kirill.  This past week, he defended Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as a holy war.”  It is no such thing.

Historical argument

The Russian Orthodox Church emphasizes historical links between Ukraine and Russia. In the 10th century CE, Orthodox Christianity came to the Kingdom of Kyivan Rus.  Which, at thta time ruled over modern-day Belarus, Ukraine and western Russia from its capital Kyiv. Patriarch Kirill says that the peoples of Russia and Ukraine come “from one Kievan baptismal font.” He speaks of their alleged “common historical fate”.  Therefore,he justifies Russia’s argument that it is liberating Ukraine.  Prerhaps it would be more appropriate, historically, if Ukraine were to liberate Russia!

Here is a quote from an article in The Economist. “In Russia, church and military go hand in hand. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, implicitly supports Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He spouts Kremlin propaganda, claiming that Russia is not the aggressor …”

Putin and Kirill’s unholy alliance

The background to this ‘unholy alliance’ between Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill goes back a long way. Under communism, the church was suppressed. After the Soviet Union broke up, the church regained influence, and under Patriarch Kirill, thousands of Russian churches have reopened or been built anew with state support. So close is their relationship that the Patriarch has called Putin’s presidency a “miracle of God”.

In all this, we see the wisdom of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. You cannot serve two masters. Neither can you serve God and material wealth.

Examples from history of church leaders supporting corrupt national goals

When national Church leaders try to do so by supporting corrupt national goals, it always ends badly. Just look at these examples.

For more than 200 years, the leaders of the Church of England supported the African slave trade and grew wealthy from it. Later, In the 1930s, the senior leadership of the Lutheran Church in Germany endorsed Adolf Hitler’s program of national expansion and “racial purity”.

Again, in 19th century Canada – and for most of the 20th – Canadian church leaders, including those of the Anglican Church of Canada, backed the federal government’s attempts to stamp out Indigenous cultures, and even ran residential schools where that was the objective. In every case, history shows that, “ in the fight of truth with falsehood”, those church leaders chose the evil side.

Patriarch Kirill has besmirched the name of Christ

Patriarch Kirill, you had to decide between the good and the evil side.  That moment came long ago. You chose which master to serve when you aligned yourself with Vladimir Putin. In your devotion to Putin, you have despised Jesus Christ.  The master whom you pledged to serve when you were ordained a priest..

Moreover, no-one can serve God and wealth. You have disgraced yourself by serving the Russian church’s material wealth. You are doubly disgraced.  Because you back Putin’s unholy and merciless attacks.  On residential areas, hospitals and schools. Millions of Ukrainians, whom you claim to be liberating, are fleeing in terror. They leave behind their cities, shattered by Russian artillery and bombs.  All their possessions.  All their hopes and dreams.

Therefore, history will paint the name Patriarch Kirill in the deepest ignominy. And therefore, you must resign as Patriarch. At once. Now. Today.

As first said by Oliver Cromwell in 1653 and repeated many times by others, I say to you, “In the name of God, GO!!”